Just getting bigger

For the first time since 2008, the WNBA will have a new team, with the Bay Area adding a franchise in 2025 and the Golden State Warriors paying a reported $50 million record in expansion fees over 10 years.

“Bringing in a market like San Francisco, Bay Area and Oakland, which is one of the biggest media markets in the country where we didn’t already have a team,” Engelbert said. “I came in and I couldn’t believe we didn’t have a team, because in my prior life we had such a large business opportunity there.”

Engelbert added that broadening fandom and exposure requires being in more than 12 cities in the country and is looking for more growth in the future.

“We’re excited that this is the first one we’ve announced,” the commissioner said.