The WNBA and women’s basketball as a whole is having a moment right now. The NCAA Championship was the most watched of all-time, the WNBA Finals feature two of the most star-studded teams in league history, the Phoenix Mercury announced they are getting a new 100 million dollar practice facility and with all of that, the league is expanding. The 13th WNBA franchise, the yet-to-be-named “Golden State” franchise was announced on Thursday, with not-so-subtle hints to the rest of the basketball community that there could be a 14th franchise joining them in 2025.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert while revealing the new franchise in Golden State seemed to be very open, if not outright wanting, a 14th team to join the WNBA in 2025 for two new franchises. She mentioned a few cities that could be good fits with some other pitches here.
Portland, Oregon
This is a natural fit for the WNBA with a built-in NBA franchise in the Portland Trail Blazers. Nike is also in town with a fan base that is rabid for sports. This would create some really fun potential rivalries with the new Golden State franchise and the Seattle Storm all in the same region with easy travel for the rest of the Western Conference as well. It would be a great fresh start for Portland overall with franchise legend Damian Lillard leaving and a new era of basketball beginning.
Bonus Name Suggestion: Portland Knights
Denver, Colorado
There has never been a better era of basketball in Colorado with Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets in town. With a fanbase that is in place supporting the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and Colorado Avalanche this could be a perfect fit for a WNBA franchise to bring another sporting attraction to the Rocky Mountains.
Bonus Name Suggestion: Denver Miles
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Expanding the WNBA reach into Canada, a country that has supported two NBA franchises over the years is a perfect option. The city is vibrant, multicultural and features some of the best fans in sports. This also gives the WNBA another franchise along the East Coast with the New York Liberty, Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics.
Bonus Name Suggestion: Toronto Birds of Prey
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This is one of the most natural fits and is sort of baffling that Philadelphia has never had a WNBA franchise. Now, with expansion on the horizon, they can right that wrong by giving one of the most historic basketball cities ever, one that was home to Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson and now Joel Embiid another chapter in its legacy.
Bonus Name Suggestion: Philadelphia Mummers
Charlotte, North Carolina
With North Carolina already one of the biggest college basketball states in the country, adding in a WNBA franchise is a no-brainer. The team can work with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets to bring more eyes to the sport and potentially use it as a recruiting tool for the various colleges looking to win a National Championship.
Bonus Name Suggestion: Charlotte Queens
Sacramento, California
Make what was old, new again. The city of Sacramento lost the Monarchs as a part of the WNBA for 13 seasons from 1997 at its inception through 2009. During that run the team made the playoffs nine times, the WNBA Finals twice and won the championship in 2005 under the guidance of Coach of the Year John Whisenant, WNBA Finals MVP and Hall of Famer Yolanda Griffin, Most Improved Player of the Year Nicole Powell and former all-time assists leader Ticha Penicheiro.
Bonus Name Suggestion: Sacramento Monarchs
Nashville, Memphis, or Knoxville Tennessee
A big part of the sales pitch for Golden State earning a WNBA expansion franchise was the legacy of the region with Stanford women’s basketball and the Golden State Warriors infrastructure. The women’s basketball program with the most wins of all time is located in Knoxville, Tennessee with an NBA franchise in Memphis and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Nashville, all in the same region. This is a slam dunk for the WNBA to bring a team to Tennessee.
Bonus Name Suggestion: Tennessee Fireflies
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