The WNBA is increasing to the San Francisco Bay Space, the league introduced Thursday. San Francisco’s inaugural season will start in 2025. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned the ladies’s basketball staff will probably be an enlargement of the Golden State Warriors, making them the sixth NBA franchise to even have a WNBA staff.
“We’re thrilled about increasing to the Bay Space,” Engelbert mentioned, “and bringing the WNBA to a area with passionate basketball followers and a powerful historical past of supporting ladies’s basketball.
“[Warriors co-owners] Joe Lacob, Peter Guber and their management staff know the way to construct and function a world-class group, as witnessed by the immense success the Warriors’ franchise has loved from each a enterprise and basketball perspective over the past decade. Their curiosity in becoming a member of the WNBA household is one more signal of the league’s development potential.”
“Welcome to the WNBA.”
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert presents Golden State Warriors proprietor Joe Lacob and government chairman Peter Guber with the official sport ball.
🎥 @WNBA | @wnbagoldenstate pic.twitter.com/ghDDpOJbiw
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 5, 2023
Warriors co-executive chairmen Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, SF mayor London Breed and Warriors chief working officer Brandon Schneider are at Chase Middle to formally announce the WNBA staff coming to the Bay Space in 2025. pic.twitter.com/nLNTgYM2ri
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) October 5, 2023
The San Francisco staff is the primary new WNBA franchise since 2008, when the Atlanta Dream joined. San Francisco would be the thirteenth WNBA staff. Chase Middle is about to turn out to be their house area. They can even use the Warriors’ apply facility as their headquarters.
Engelbert mentioned Thursday she expects a 14th staff to be added to the league by 2025. She talked about a number of cities which have proven curiosity in an enlargement staff, together with Portland, Sacramento, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Denver.
Golden State Warriors awarded WNBA enlargement staff in San Francisco Bay Space, inaugural season begins in 2025
WNBA enlargement has been one in all Engelbert’s long-term private targets.
“The very first thing once I got here in, I mentioned, ‘OK, we’ve got 12 groups in a rustic of over 300 million folks. That isn’t sufficient,’” she advised The Athletic final 12 months. “In order that’s why we do discuss enlargement, and it’s a must to be in additional cities to develop extra fandom.”
Moreover, Warriors star Stephen Curry welcomed the brand new squad to the Bay Space minutes after the announcement.
“Wanting ahead to having y’all,” the nine-time All-Star mentioned on social media. “Can’t wait to see y’all thrive on the highest stage. Let’s get it!”
#WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert with some metropolis title drops for the 14th staff 👀 Portland, Sacramento, Denver, Toronto, Philly, and Charlotte. pic.twitter.com/fZ2RxlAz7N
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) October 5, 2023
Moreover, Lacob declared the brand new Golden State staff would “win a championship within the subsequent 5 years” through the information convention at Chase Middle. The NBA government additionally talked about they haven’t but selected a staff title.
“The Bay Space is the proper marketplace for a WNBA staff, and we’re thrilled this chance has lastly come to fruition,” he added.
“The WNBA continues to solidify itself because the preeminent ladies’s skilled basketball league and we look ahead to supporting one of the best ladies’s basketball gamers on the planet and our staff beginning in 2025.”
At this juncture, it’s unknown how a lot the Warriors group paid to ascertain the WNBA franchise.
