WNBA Announces Bay Area Expansion Team Set To Debut In 2025

The Bay Area is getting a WNBA team!

Seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors have been awarded a WNBA team to begin playing in the 2025 season. The team is the first new franchise to join the league since the Atlanta Dream was added in 2008. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the exciting news on Thursday.

A press release issued by the league said the new team will be "owned and operated by Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO Joe Lacob and Co-Executive Chairman Peter Guber." The team will play home games at the same arena the Warriors do - the Chase Center in San Francisco. Golden State's Oakland Facility will be the new team's headquarters and will house a world-class practice facility and the team's front office staff.

"We are thrilled about expanding to the Bay Area and bringing the WNBA to a region with passionate basketball fans and a strong history of supporting women's basketball," Engelbert said. "Joe Lacob, Peter Guber and their leadership team know how to build and operate a world-class organization, as witnessed by the immense success the Warriors' franchise has enjoyed from both a business and basketball perspective over the last decade."

The Warriors are the sixth NBA franchise to be awarded a WNBA team. Other NBA teams include: Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards.

"The Bay Area is the perfect market for a WNBA team, and we are thrilled this opportunity has finally come to fruition," said Joe Lacob, Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO.

"We have been interested in a WNBA franchise for several years, due in part to the rich history of women's basketball in the Bay Area, and believe now is the ideal time to execute that vision and build upon the legacy. The WNBA continues to solidify itself as the preeminent women's professional basketball league, and we look forward to supporting the best women's basketball players in the world and our team starting in 2025."

WNBA Golden State's newly created Instagram page already has more than 11,000 likes and lots of supportive comments.

Warriors star Steph Curry had a message for the new team.

"Just want to welcome the WNBA to the Bay Area. Looking forward to having y'all," Curry said. "Can't wait to see ya'll thrive at the highest level. Let's get it!"

Gary Payton II also had a message for the new team. "Wanna welcome the WNBA to the Bay. So excited, can't wait for the ladies to get out here," he said in his video message.

Another video shared on their new Instagram page puts some competitive pressure on the new team by team owner Lacob who said, "We will win a WNBA championship in the first five years of this franchise."

Steve Kerr, head coach of the Warriors, also had supportive words to share for the new team in a video.

"There's a great joy and a love for basketball in the Bay Area," he said. "We've seen such a connection between the Warriors and WNBA players."

He continued to say, "We've crossed paths with all these women over the years and it just seems like a natural connection. There's a shared love for the game that our guys feel. This is a great place for a WNBA franchise."

Many WNBA fans dropped into the comment section of the recently shared photos and videos to leave their support and share their excitement, as well as other teams.

The Los Angeles Sparks welcomed the new team by saying, "California Love 🎶💜 Welcome to the W," and the Warriors added, "Let’s goooo!"