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Oklahoma City Thunder, Jalen Williams Agree to Five-Year Max Extension Worth Up to $287 MillionThe Oklahoma City Thunder...
07/11/2025

Oklahoma City Thunder, Jalen Williams Agree to Five-Year Max Extension Worth Up to $287 Million

The Oklahoma City Thunder are locking in their core for the long haul.

Forward Jalen Williams and the Thunder have agreed to a five-year maximum contract extension worth as much as $287 million, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Thursday. The deal keeps one of the NBA’s fastest-rising stars in OKC through the 2029-30 season.

The agreement comes just days after the Thunder inked big man Chet Holmgren to a similar extension, signaling a clear commitment to the franchise’s youthful foundation. With NBA MVP runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already under contract, Oklahoma City now has its superstar trio locked in as it chases a new era of sustained dominance.

Williams, 23, just completed his third season in the league after being selected No. 12 overall out of Santa Clara in the 2022 NBA Draft. He initially signed a four-year, $20.2 million rookie contract but quickly outplayed that deal with one of the most impressive ascents in recent memory.

He averaged 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game as a rookie, helping the Thunder improve from 24-58 to 40-42 and earn a play-in berth. That momentum carried over into 2023-24, when Williams posted 19.1 points and 4.5 assists per game for a 57-win Thunder squad that finished atop the Western Conference standings.

But it was last season where Williams fully broke through. He earned his first All-Star selection and finished with career highs across the board—21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals on 48.4 percent shooting, earning a spot on the All-NBA Third Team.

Thanks in large part to Williams’ two-way brilliance, Oklahoma City soared to an NBA-best 68-14 record and capped off the season with the franchise’s first NBA title since its relocation from Seattle in 2008. Williams shined on the league’s biggest stage, averaging 23.6 points per game in the Finals, including a 40-point outburst in a decisive Game 5 victory.

His blend of scoring, playmaking, defense, and versatility has made him the perfect complement to Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren and now he’s a foundational piece for the future.
In Williams, the Thunder aren’t just rewarding past success, they’re betting big on continued excellence from a player who has quickly become one of the league’s brightest young stars.
With their young core locked up, a championship under their belt, and one of the NBA’s best front offices in place, Oklahoma City is firmly in win-now and win-later mode.

The Thunder are here and they aren’t going anywhere.

Celtics Extend Support to Pacers After Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles TearThe Boston Celtics know the emotional and physic...
07/08/2025

Celtics Extend Support to Pacers After Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles Tear

The Boston Celtics know the emotional and physical toll of a superstar suffering a devastating injury and now, they’re offering guidance to a fellow Eastern Conference contender facing the same harsh reality.

After Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon following Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said Tuesday that Boston has been in contact with Indiana to share advice and offer support.

“We’ve unfortunately been through this before,” Stevens told reporters. “We just want to be a resource in any way we can for Tyrese, for their medical staff, for their front office. It’s a brutal situation, but you get through it step by step.”

Boston had its own Achilles nightmare when Jayson Tatum went down with the same injury in 2023, derailing a title contending season. Stevens, who coached the Celtics when Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome ankle fracture in 2017, pointed out that while the injuries differ, the road back can be equally long and mentally taxing.

The parallels to past heartbreaks were immediate for many fans. Haliburton, already nursing a calf strain, went down early in Indiana’s Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals — a moment that echoed Kevin Durant’s fateful Achilles tear in the 2019 Finals while playing through a similar issue.

Pacers president Kevin Pritchard made the expected official on Monday: Haliburton, a two-time All-Star and the engine of Indiana’s offense, will miss the entire 2025-26 season.
“If I could’ve traded him missing Game 7 to have him ready for opening night next year, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Pritchard said. “But we don’t get that choice.”

Making matters worse, Indiana also lost veteran center Myles Turner to the rival Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, further clouding the team’s short-term outlook.

The Celtics can relate on that front, too. Despite winning the East, Boston has undergone major changes of its own, shipping out Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis in a pair of blockbuster trades this offseason. Stevens, though, emphasized resilience and adaptability as key lessons.

“Losing stars is tough,” Stevens said. “But it’s part of this league. You find a way to regroup, to build around what you still have, and to support your guys as they recover.”

Haliburton, 25, had emerged as one of the NBA’s premier playmakers, averaging 20.9 points and 10.4 assists per game last season. With him out and Turner gone, the Pacers will lean heavily on young pieces like Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker, along with any additions Pritchard can make in the coming months.

As Indiana begins what figures to be a long and uncertain road, it does so with empathy and insight from a team that’s already walked it.

Mike Brown, Knicks Agree to Four-Year, $40M Deal as Coaching Era Begins in NYCDetails have emerged regarding Mike Brown'...
07/06/2025

Mike Brown, Knicks Agree to Four-Year, $40M Deal as Coaching Era Begins in NYC

Details have emerged regarding Mike Brown's contract to become the next head coach of the New York Knicks, with league sources confirming Saturday that Brown and the Knicks have agreed to a four-year, $40 million deal.

SNY’s Ian Begley reported that the agreement was finalized less than a month after ESPN's Shams Charania first broke the news that New York had chosen Brown to replace Tom Thibodeau, who was fired following the team’s Eastern Conference Finals exit. With Thibodeau still owed $30 million, the Knicks now find themselves on the hook for approximately $70 million in head coaching salaries over the next four seasons.

Brown, 55, takes over one of the NBA’s premier pressure-cooker jobs, bringing with him more than a decade of head coaching experience. The veteran coach previously led the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and most recently, the Sacramento Kings, compiling a career record of 454-304 with seven playoff appearances.

His most notable run came in Cleveland, where he guided a young LeBron James to the 2007 NBA Finals and posted a .663 winning percentage over five seasons. But since his initial Cavs tenure ended in 2010, Brown has seen more ups and downs, going 182-166 across his subsequent stops. He helped end the Kings’ 16-year playoff drought in 2023 but was dismissed early in the 2024-25 season following a disappointing 13-18 start, despite entering the year on a lucrative extension.

According to Begley, Brown’s new deal with the Knicks may help offset some of the money still owed to him by Sacramento.
Now, Brown inherits a Knicks team coming off three straight playoff appearances, capped by their deepest postseason run in over two decades. New York fell to Indiana in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, prompting the front office to make a bold coaching change. The Knicks believe Brown’s championship experience and defensive pedigree make him the right voice to elevate the franchise to contender status.

The road ahead won't be easy but it may be wide open. The Eastern Conference landscape is in flux heading into the 2025-26 season. Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, and Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard are all expected to miss significant time due to Achilles injuries, leaving a vacuum at the top of the standings.

While rising squads like the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic loom, the Knicks alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers appear poised to take control in the East. With a returning core headlined by Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby, expectations in New York are soaring.

For Mike Brown, the mission is clear: lead the Knicks back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and perhaps, this time, finish the job.

Mike Brown Hired to Replace Tom Thibodeau as Knicks Enter Pivotal OffseasonThe New York Knicks are turning to a familiar...
07/03/2025

Mike Brown Hired to Replace Tom Thibodeau as Knicks Enter Pivotal Offseason

The New York Knicks are turning to a familiar sideline presence to guide them into their next chapter.

The Knicks are hiring veteran head coach Mike Brown to replace Tom Thibodeau following his surprise dismissal after New York’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal has not been finalized, but NBA insider Chris Haynes reports both sides are “working expeditiously” to iron out the final terms.

Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, brings a .599 career winning percentage and experience from high-pressure environments, including playoff runs with LeBron James in Cleveland and a brief stint with the Lakers. Most recently, he ended Sacramento’s 16-year playoff drought, though his time with the Kings ended abruptly last season after a 13–18 start.
Knicks president Leon Rose didn’t mince words after firing Thibodeau, saying the franchise is “singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans.” That’s the bar for Brown. But for many, it’s fair to ask—is this really an upgrade?

New York’s postseason exposed flaws in both coaching and construction. While the trade for Karl-Anthony Towns added offensive firepower and helped power the Knicks past the Celtics in the second round, it also magnified the team’s defensive vulnerabilities. As The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz wrote, “On bad nights, the two All-Stars, Brunson and Towns, exacerbated each other's worst defensive traits, regressing as a duo during the second half of the season and into the playoffs.”

In their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers, those flaws were fully exploited. Brunson and Towns were repeatedly targeted on defense, and the offensive chemistry lacked flow. Incredibly, Brunson assisted on just five of Towns’ baskets in the entire series.

Add in the thinning of the roster—moves like dealing Quentin Grimes to Detroit for Bojan Bogdanović and shipping Obi Toppin to Indiana look more questionable now and the result was a top-heavy team that leaned hard on a shrinking core. Even Thibodeau’s famously rigid rotations couldn’t cover for the loss of depth.

The Knicks are reportedly eyeing James Borrego to join Brown’s staff as lead assistant, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. But there’s a complication: the Pelicans want to keep Borrego as part of Willie Green’s bench.

This coaching hire is only the beginning of a defining summer for Leon Rose. There’s still the question of whether the roster simply needs tweaking—or something bigger. Could one of Towns, Mikal Bridges, or OG Anunoby be on the move if the fit doesn't improve?

New York took a huge swing this past season, banking on talent wins over fit. It worked just long enough to excite the fan base especially after ousting Boston, but it ended in disappointment and real questions about long-term sustainability.
Brown will be tasked not just with improving on-court results, but with stabilizing a locker room that lost the cohesion it had just one year earlier. As The Athletic put it: “In comparison to last year's team, which brought juice back to the franchise... the synergy within this year’s group wasn’t as strong.”

The Knicks have momentum. They have stars. Now, with a new coach at the helm, they’ll find out if they have the right formula.
This is not just a coaching change. It’s a reset, one that could define the next decade at Madison Square Garden.

Angel Reese Misses Out on All-Star Start Despite Strong Fan SupportThe 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters have been announ...
07/02/2025

Angel Reese Misses Out on All-Star Start Despite Strong Fan Support

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters have been announced—and while the roster is stacked with elite talent, not everyone who made waves this season earned a spot in the opening lineup. One of the most talked-about snubs? Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese.

Reese finished fifth among frontcourt players in fan voting, a clear indication of her surging popularity and growing impact on the league. But when player and media votes were factored in, she dropped to 12th in both categories—ultimately falling short of a starting nod. Her weighted score of 7.75 left her just outside the cutoff line, finishing behind Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally, who claimed the final frontcourt starter slot.

It was a tough break for Reese, who’s brought a new level of energy to Chicago and the WNBA at large. Her performances on the court and her ever-growing fanbase have kept her in the headlines since day one. But the All-Star selection formula—where fan votes count for 50%, and media and player votes each count for 25%—can be unforgiving, especially for younger players still earning league-wide respect.

She wasn’t the only high-profile omission.

Skylar Diggins, one of the league’s most productive guards this season, also missed out. Diggins is averaging impressive numbers, ranking seventh in scoring and fourth in assists, yet she couldn’t overcome her ninth-place finish in fan voting among guards. Even though she placed third in player voting and fourth with the media, the lack of fan support dragged her score down enough to leave her off the starting list.

Meanwhile, the All-Star Game will still be filled with marquee names and top-tier talent.

Indiana’s Caitlin Clark will serve as a captain in her second All-Star appearance, leading the league in assists and continuing to shine as one of the WNBA’s biggest stars. Rookie sensation Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, also earned her first All-Star nod leading all rookies in points and assists.

Other guards rounding out the starters include Sabrina Ionescu, now a WNBA champion and New York Liberty’s all-time leader in threes, and Allisha Gray, making her third consecutive appearance.

The frontcourt is as stacked as ever. Napheesa Collier headlines the group, leading the league in scoring and anchoring a dominant Minnesota Lynx team. She’s joined by two-time MVP Breanna Stewart, reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year A’ja Wilson, veteran Nneka Ogwumike, third-year star Aliyah Boston, and Satou Sabally, who has flourished in her first season with Phoenix.

For Reese, all is not lost. The 12 All-Star reserves will be revealed on July 6, and given her production, popularity, and storyline, she’s a strong candidate to make the roster. The same goes for Diggins, who continues to be one of the league’s most dynamic and efficient playmakers.

The All-Star Game is set for later this month, and while a few rising stars will have to wait a bit longer for their starting moment, the WNBA’s depth and talent continue to shine on the biggest stage.

Indiana Fever Stun Lynx Without Caitlin Clark, Capture First Commissioner’s Cup TitleThe Indiana Fever made a statement ...
07/02/2025

Indiana Fever Stun Lynx Without Caitlin Clark, Capture First Commissioner’s Cup Title

The Indiana Fever made a statement Tuesday night with defense, depth, and determination as they captured their first Commissioner’s Cup championship, stunning the Minnesota Lynx, 74-59, without the services of rookie phenom Caitlin Clark.
Against a Minnesota team that entered the night with the WNBA’s best record (14-2) and the league’s top-ranked offense, Indiana put together its most complete performance of the season. Five Fever players scored in double figures, and the team controlled the game from the opening tip.

Veteran forward Natasha Howard led the way, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The two-time All-Star, who signed with Indiana this offseason, was named MVP of the Cup Final after anchoring both ends of the floor and providing a steady presence in Clark’s absence.

“This is what we’ve been building for,” Howard said postgame. “We believe in each other. We believe in this team.”

The Fever’s defense was the story of the night. Indiana entered the game ranked eighth in defensive rating but suffocated a Lynx squad that had been averaging a league best 87.4 points per game. Napheesa Collier and the Lynx shot just 34.9% from the field and 25% from three, while committing 16 turnovers, a stark contrast from their dominant performances throughout the regular season.

Indiana’s win also comes with financial incentive. Fever players will split a $500,000 prize pool, along with an additional $120,000 in cryptocurrency, courtesy of the WNBA’s partnership with Coinbase.

The victory was all the more impressive considering the Fever were without Clark, who has been managing multiple minor injuries throughout the season. Despite her absence, Indiana’s supporting cast stepped up most notably Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Kristy Wallace, who helped the team outpace Minnesota on both ends of the floor.

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Fever, who now sit at 8-8 and eighth in the standings. But Tuesday night’s performance, against one of the league’s most consistent contenders, showed a level of growth and resilience that suggests Indiana may be ahead of schedule.

With Clark expected to return soon and the Fever just three games back of the No. 3 seed, Indiana has positioned itself for a possible second-half surge.

“This is a franchise on the rise,” head coach Christie Sides said. “We’ve taken our lumps, we’ve learned, and now we’re starting to show what we’re capable of.”

Next up for Indiana: a chance to build on the momentum as they return to regular season play. But on Tuesday night, the Fever left no doubt, they’re not just building for the future. They’re ready to win now.

Bucks Waive Damian Lillard Amid Achilles Recovery, Clear Cap Space to Land Myles TurnerIn a stunning twist to what was a...
07/01/2025

Bucks Waive Damian Lillard Amid Achilles Recovery, Clear Cap Space to Land Myles Turner

In a stunning twist to what was already a rollercoaster tenure, the Milwaukee Bucks have waived All-Star guard Damian Lillard, ending his brief run with the franchise less than a year after his blockbuster arrival from Portland.

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are stretching the $113 million remaining on Lillard’s deal to clear room for the signing of center Myles Turner, who is joining the team on a four-year, $107 million contract in free agency. The move was met with internal tension, as Chris Haynes reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo is “not pleased” with the decision to waive his co-star.

Bucks Waive Damian Lillard Amid Achilles Recovery, Clear Cap Space to Land Myles TurnerIn a stunning twist to what was a...
07/01/2025

Bucks Waive Damian Lillard Amid Achilles Recovery, Clear Cap Space to Land Myles Turner

In a stunning twist to what was already a rollercoaster tenure, the Milwaukee Bucks have waived All-Star guard Damian Lillard, ending his brief run with the franchise less than a year after his blockbuster arrival from Portland.

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are stretching the $113 million remaining on Lillard’s deal to clear room for the signing of center Myles Turner, who is joining the team on a four-year, $107 million contract in free agency. The move was met with internal tension, as Chris Haynes reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo is “not pleased” with the decision to waive his co-star.

Lillard, 34, underwent surgery on May 2 to repair a torn Achilles tendon, an injury suffered during Game 4 of Milwaukee’s first round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. That game marked just his third contest back after battling a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) diagnosis in his right calf that forced him to miss the final month of the regular season. The DVT scare had similarities to the shoulder issue that sidelined Victor Wembanyama in February.

Lillard’s Brief Milwaukee Chapter
Though his time in Milwaukee lasted only 58 games, Lillard remained productive. The veteran guard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists, and shot 44.8% from the field, including 37.6% from three, en route to his eighth career All-Star nod.

After more than a decade with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he became a franchise icon, Lillard arrived in Milwaukee in September 2023 to form a super-duo with Antetokounmpo. The pairing showed flashes of brilliance, but health issues and chemistry struggles derailed their postseason hopes.

The Bucks’ decision to cut ties with Lillard suggests concern over his ability to return to full form post-surgery and a recalibration of the franchise’s direction heading into what could be a critical window for Giannis' long-term commitment.

Turner Joins the Fold
In Lillard’s place, Milwaukee is banking on the impact of Myles Turner, one of the league’s premier shot blockers and a capable stretch big. Turner, 28, is coming off one of his most efficient seasons with the Pacers and brings much-needed size, rim protection, and floor spacing to complement Antetokounmpo.
The move gives the Bucks a new-look frontcourt and a chance to balance the roster after a season marked by defensive inconsistency.

Fallout and What’s Next
Despite the abrupt end, Andscape’s Marc J. Spears described the situation as a “win-win” for Lillard, noting the veteran was already considering declining his player option for the 2025-26 season. With his future now wide open and uncertainty surrounding his Achilles rehab, Lillard’s free-agent market is murky at best. At 35, and with a significant injury history, it remains to be seen which contenders—if any—are willing to take a flier on him.

For Milwaukee, the pressure now shifts to keeping Giannis satisfied. The two-time MVP holds a player option for the 2027-28 season and will be a free agent in 2028 if he doesn’t sign another extension. The Bucks are hoping that surrounding him with a more versatile, defensively stout supporting cast can reignite a Finals push.

Giannis has previously signed long-term extensions in 2016, 2020, and 2023, but with recent front office moves and another early playoff exit, the clock may be ticking louder than ever in Milwaukee.

Bottom Line: The Bucks have officially moved on from the Dame experiment. It cost them a future Hall of Famer, but they now pivot toward a new core centered on Giannis and Turner, in hopes of returning to title contention. As for Lillard, his next chapter remains unwritten.

Denver Makes a Splash: Nuggets Trade Michael Porter Jr. to Nets, Land Cam Johnson & Reunite with Bruce BrownIn a bold an...
07/01/2025

Denver Makes a Splash: Nuggets Trade Michael Porter Jr. to Nets, Land Cam Johnson & Reunite with Bruce Brown

In a bold and strategic move, the Denver Nuggets are reshaping their roster and financial future.

The Nuggets are trading forward Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cameron Johnson, league sources told ESPN. The deal represents the first major personnel shift under Denver’s new front office leadership of Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace and signals a renewed focus on financial flexibility and complementary roster construction around Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Salary Dump & Roster Fit
While both Porter and Johnson have two years left on their current deals, the financial impact is vastly different. Porter is owed $38.3 million next season and $40.8 million in 2026-27, while Johnson’s deal is more team-friendly at $21 millionand $23 million, respectively. The move gets Denver under the luxury tax and opens the door for the use of the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception.

Not wasting any time, the Nuggets used that flexibility to re-sign Bruce Brown, a key piece of their 2023 championship run. Brown agreed to return on a veteran’s minimum one year deal, adding defensive grit, playmaking, and chemistry to a locker room that already knows what he brings.

The Cam Johnson Era Begins
Cam Johnson’s arrival gives Denver a prototypical 3-and-D forward who fits neatly into the team’s system. The 6-foot-8 wing averaged a career-best 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and shot 39% from three in 2024-25 with Brooklyn. Beyond his floor spacing, Johnson flashed newfound shot-creation ability this season, an element that could add dimension to Denver's offense.
“I’m excited!” Johnson told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. “I get an opportunity to compete with some of the league's best. What more can I ask for?”

His only caveat? Health. Johnson hasn’t topped 60 games in a season since 2021-22, a concern for a Nuggets team that has dealt with its share of injuries in recent years.

Porter Heads East
Porter, 26, leaves Denver after six seasons that included both promise and frustration. A career 40% three-point shooter, Porter played 77 games last season, averaging 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds. He was a vital piece of the Nuggets’ 2023 championship team and finishes his Denver tenure second in franchise history in made 3-pointers (843), behind only Jamal Murray.

Now headed to a Brooklyn team looking to rebuild and develop young talent, Porter brings instant scoring and high-level shooting. With Mikal Bridges recently traded and Cam Thomas stepping into a larger role, Porter could be a focal point in a Nets offense in transition.

Turmoil to Transition
The move caps off a whirlwind few months for the Nuggets. With just three games left in the regular season, the organization made waves by firing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth in an attempt to reenergize a struggling squad. David Adelman, then an assistant, took over and helped Denver push into the second round before falling in seven games to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Adelman has since been named permanent head coach, and with Tenzer and Wallace now calling the shots in the front office, Denver appears committed to reshaping its future around financial prudence and a more versatile, switchable roster.

Bottom Line:
Denver's trade of Michael Porter Jr. is a calculated move aimed at long-term cap flexibility and roster optimization. Cam Johnson brings shooting, size, and switchability on the wing. Bruce Brown’s return adds a familiar face and toughness. With Jokic and Murray still at the core, the Nuggets are betting on fit, depth, and adaptability to return to championship contention.

WNBA Announces Expansion to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, Bringing League to 18 Teams by 2030The WNBA is expandi...
06/30/2025

WNBA Announces Expansion to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, Bringing League to 18 Teams by 2030

The WNBA is expanding, again.
The league announced Monday that it will add three new franchises over the next six years, bringing professional women’s basketball to Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030). The additions will grow the WNBA to 18 teams by the end of the decade, marking the league’s most aggressive expansion era since its inception in 1997.

"The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family," Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. "This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball."

The new ownership groups include some of the biggest names in American sports business: Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, and a Philadelphia group led by Josh Harris, David Blitzer, David Adelman, and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts.

“I am deeply grateful for our new owners...for their belief in the WNBA's future and their commitment to building thriving teams that will energize and inspire their communities,” Engelbert said.
The league had long taken a cautious approach to expansion, with 17 years separating the Atlanta Dream’s launch in 2008 and the Golden State Valkyries' debut in 2024. But that conservative timeline has given way to an unprecedented surge in growth. With Toronto (2026) and Portland (also 2026) already announced, the league will now welcome five new franchises in just six years, a rapid shift driven by surging interest and commercial success.

Fueled by a record-breaking rookie class that includes Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink, the WNBA has seen significant jumps in TV ratings, attendance, and merchandise sales in 2024. The league’s new media rights deal which is part of a broader agreement negotiated alongside the NBA provided the financial runway to make expansion viable.
For Engelbert and league leadership, this is more than a business decision, it's a signal.

“We are confident that these new teams will reshape the landscape of women's basketball,” Engelbert said. “And we’re just getting started.”

While longtime WNBA fans will remember an era marked by team relocations and franchises folding, the league is in a far stronger position financially than ever before. Engelbert and ownership groups across the league believe the time is right for bold, sustained growth.

The W is no longer playing it safe. It’s expanding with purpose and with confidence in the future.

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