2028 WNBA Expansion City Odds: Which Cities Will Add A Team Franchise?

By Adam Martin Mar 28th, 2025 9:30 PM EDT

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The WNBA is one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in North America, so it’s no wonder expansion has become a talking point as of late. There are currently 13 teams in the WNBA, including the Golden State Valkyries, which began play in 2025. In 2026, two new teams will be added to the mix when the unnamed Portland WNBA team and the Toronto Tempo begin play, bringing the league to 15 teams. There are also heavy rumors that Cleveland will get an expansion team in 2028, as well.

As the WNBA grows, other new teams will be added via expansion, and with several cities expressing interest in getting a women’s professional basketball team, Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has put together hypothetical betting odds on what other cities could be awarded WNBA expansion teams for 2028. In Thompson’s view, two cities could be awarded teams, which affects the hypothetical betting odds for sports betting.

WNBA Expansion City 2028 Odds

City	Odds	Implied %
Nashville	+200	33.3%
Detroit	+275	26.7%
Philadelphia	+300	25.0%
Houston	+450	18.2%
Kansas City	+650	13.3%
Milwaukee	+800	11.1%
St. Louis	+900	10.0%
Austin	+950	9.5%

These odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

Top Possible Expansion Cities

Nashville (+200)

A Nashville-based WNBA team called the Tennessee Summit has already submitted a bid for a 2028 start date. The group is led by former politician Bill Haslam, who recently purchased a majority stake in the NHL’s Nashville Predators, and also includes WNBA legend Candace Parker and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning among its investors, plus musicians Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

Detroit (+275)

Detroit once had a WNBA team called the Detroit Shock, but the team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2010, leaving Motor City without a squad in the WNBA. The city may soon get a new team, with Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gore, Detroit Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp, NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill, and NFL quarterback Jared Goff among a group of investors who recently submitted a bid to bring the WNBA back to Detroit, and it seems likely to happen.

Philadelphia (+300)

We have Philadelphia, one of the biggest sports towns in the nation, actively seeking a WNBA expansion franchise under the ownership of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment – the owners of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils – formally submitting a bid for an expansion team.

Houston (+450)

Another big city is Houston, and Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta has confirmed he wants to bring a team back to the city, which used to have a team in the WNBA until 2008.

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Other Possible Franchises

Kansas City (+650)

It would be a nice get for Kansas City to land a WNBA team, and Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes has mentioned his interest in bringing a team to KC, although at this point no formal bid has been submitted.

Milwaukee (+800)

Milwaukee is another potential landing spot for an expansion team, but the team did not put in a bid for the next round of expansion. Things can always change, however, so don’t completely write the city off just yet.

St. Louis (+900)

There have also been rumblings that St. Louis could get a WNBA team, with a group of investors including Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. However, if the league chooses to go to Kansas City instead, it seems unlikely to add a second expansion team in Missouri.

Austin (+950)

Austin has also submitted a bid for a WNBA team, with a group led by NBA superstar Kevin Durant and former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry. Austin does not have a major league sports team in the “big four,” but it does have Austin FC in the MLS, and so adding a WNBA team to this fast-growing city makes a lot of sense.

About the Author

Adam Martin

More About Adam

A writer based out of Toronto, Adam Martin has covered professional sports, with an emphasis on sports gambling, for more than a decade, writing for such outlets as The Toronto Star and Sportsnet. He is an expert in UFC, while also covering NHL betting and the Stanley Cup.