The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced today that the Golden State Warriors have been awarded a WNBA expansion franchise, which will begin play in the 2025 WNBA season. The team will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco and marks the WNBA’s first expansion franchise since 2008. Fans who wish to buy season ticket memberships can do so by placing a deposit at wnba.com/goldenstate.
“The Bay Area is the perfect market for a WNBA team, and we are thrilled this opportunity has finally come to fruition,” said Warriors Co-Executive Chairman & CEO Joe Lacob. “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.”
The Warriors’ Oakland Facility, which served as the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility and front office from 1997-2019, will be the WNBA team’s headquarters, housing a world-class practice facility and the team’s front office staff. The team’s brand identity will be announced at a later date.
“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,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “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. Their interest in joining the WNBA family is yet another sign of the league’s growth potential.”
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The 2023 WNBA regular season delivered record-breaking viewership, attendance and digital engagement as the league continues to drive business growth and results. The offseason featured the most-viewed WNBA Draft since 2004, followed by the most-watched regular season in 21 years.