Bill Simmons calls looming WNBA expansion 'staggeringly stupid'
Awful Announcing • • sports
Key Points:
- The WNBA is expanding rapidly, adding two new teams in 2026 and approving three more franchises by 2030, growing the league from 12 to 18 teams within five years.
- The expansion follows the successful debut of the Golden State Valkyries, who broke attendance records and made the postseason in their inaugural season, boosting enthusiasm for growth.
- Critics like Bill Simmons have condemned the quick expansion as a money-driven move that risks diluting the league’s quality, urging for slower, smarter growth based on historical lessons.
- The WNBA hopes that increased interest in women’s basketball and competitive ownership bidding will help new franchises succeed, unlike some past expansion attempts that faltered during economic downturns.
- Controversies around franchise relocations, such as the blocked move of the Connecticut Sun to Boston, highlight tensions in the league’s governance amid this rapid growth phase.
