The WNBA expansion news received mixed reactions. Few analysts see this as a great opportunity for the players, but a few mentioned that the league is making the decisions too soon. With five new teams awaiting to be introduced in the next five years, the league will now have 18 teams by 2030.
Players in the league have also given their opinions about the WNBA expansion. When Angel Reese was asked about her views, she was pretty excited about the new sides’ choices.
Angel Reese Reacts To WNBA Expansion
The Chi-Town Barbie is in great form at the moment, leading her side to two wins in the last four games. She even won the Player of the Week accolade this week, cementing her dominance in the recent fixtures. In the recent interview, Reese was asked about her views on the WNBA expansion.
“Yeah, obviously it’s great. I’m excited. Philly obviously is close to home. Cleveland has the final four there. And Detroit is also a great city because obviously we had a team there before. So, I’m super excited about that.”
Born in Maryland, Angel Reese was happy for the team in Philadelphia. With the 76ers doing well in the NBA, the Philadelphia WNBA team would also be a great addition to Women’s basketball. The mid-Atlantic region will now have five strong teams. The Randallstown-born star also praised Detroit and Cleveland’s choice for expansion and the short history of those cities in Women’s basketball.
The Chicago Sky forward mentioned that the league is a great opportunity for talented players. She also emphasized the fact that there are many out there missing the chance to lie in ‘W’. There were many undrafted players in the 2025 draft class, and even the players selected were later waived due to WNBA roster limitations.
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Interestingly, Angel Reese was happy with the choice of Detroit and Cleveland, whereas Sophie Cunningham famously criticized the cities for those selections only. For her reaction, Cunningham got an earful from the City of Cleveland and Detroit on ‘X’.
Two Theories On Expansion Proposed By WNBA
The players seem happy with the expansion, with a few questions on the choices. But as for analysts, there are two clear theories on the recent expansion decision. At one end, the league’s expansion will bring in more eyeballs and coverage. Similarly there will be 60 more roster spots for the players in the future. The Valkyries recent success is great example of how the new franchise could be a breath of fresh air for the league.
But then, on the other hand, many questions are raised on the WNBA’s ability to handle new teams. Instead of increasing the number of teams, increasing the number of roster spots would solve players’ requirements. At the same time, the WNBA could invest more in players’ experience in the league.
Similarly, more player involvement would hamper the ‘exclusivity’ of the WNBA and could affect its quality. There is still a lot of development possible at the grass root level, creating more potent players for the future.
Also Read: Chicago Sky Celebrates Angel Reese’s Latest Accomplishment As She Makes Team’s History