Explore the exciting addition of the Golden State Valkyries as the league's 13th team and the future growth of women's basketball.
The WNBA is on a trajectory of remarkable growth, with the Golden State Valkyries set to become the league’s 13th franchise in 2025. This expansion marks the first addition of a new team since the Atlanta Dream’s debut in 2008.
The current year has been a standout for women’s basketball, highlighted by the meteoric rise of Caitlin Clark as a premier player and the Las Vegas Aces’ quest for a championship three-peat. Furthermore, the U.S. women’s basketball team recently celebrated its eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
In an exciting development for the Valkyries, Natalie Nakase has been appointed as the team’s inaugural head coach. Her selection makes her the first Asian American woman to take on a head coaching role in WNBA history.
Nakase arrives with over 16 years of coaching expertise, including her tenure as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces, where she played a key role in their back-to-back championship wins.
The Valkyries will serve as the only new team entering the league in 2025, with additional franchises expected to follow in subsequent years.
As of now, there are 12 teams in the WNBA, with the Golden State Valkyries set to join as the league’s 13th franchise in 2025. The current teams are:
In 2026, the WNBA is set to expand further by adding two new teams to the league.
The first team will be based in Toronto, marking a historic milestone as the WNBA’s inaugural international franchise outside the United States.
Meanwhile, Portland will rejoin the league after a long hiatus, more than two decades since the Portland Fire shut down.
In an interview with ESPN, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that the league is making steady progress towards introducing a 16th team, with a target date set for 2027 or 2028.
She further mentioned that the league has identified a shortlist of 10 to 12 potential cities for this new franchise
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