The WNBA is growing in The Bay

The GIST: The WNBA is growing for the first time since 2008. The league announced yesterday that a Bay Area expansion team will officially hit the courts in 2025, with rumors swirling that another new squad is also in the works. What ever happened to predictability?

The details: The W’s 13th team will share both a home court and ownership with the Golden State Warriors, one of the most successful (and highest valued) NBA franchises. It’s been 25 years since a pro women’s basketball team called the Bay Area home, but the region is a growing hub for women’s sports, boasting numerous successful NCAA programs and, come 2024, the NWSL’s Bay FC.

• But what will this new team be called? “WNBA Golden State” is the current placeholder, but that simply lacks inspiration. Scroll on and share a creative take with us — you just might make it into our next newsletter.

What’s next: The W wasn’t quite done breaking the internet — Portland will reportedly also land an expansion franchise, bringing the league to an even 14 teams in 2025. WNBA Golden State and PDX would likely join the Western Conference, moving the Minnesota Lynx to the East.

• While the West Coast is clearly winning the expansion battle, there are still other cities in the mix. Philadelphia is rumored to be a potential site, and while Toronto has suddenly pulled out of the race, the Canadian demand for the game simply cannot be ignored.