Golden State Warriors granted WNBA expansion franchise to begin play in 2025

SAN FRANCISCO — Joe Lacob’s love and support of women’s basketball dates back nearly three decades to when he became one of the original investors in the former American Basketball League. “She’s the goddess of women’s basketball.” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the expansion team will begin play in the San Francisco Bay Area for the 2025 season. “The right time, the right moment is today,” Engelbert said, while welcoming, “the next generation of leaders, mothers and athletes.” Not yet named — Lacob says that will be soon and he’s receiving a flood of suggestions — the organization will be headquartered and train in the Warriors’ former practice facility in Oakland, where the Warriors still hold their youth summer camps. “The Warriors’ fortunes changed the second Joe bought the team and said we’re going to win in five years, because he delivered every resource to strengthen the organization at every level.. He’s going to make sure this is a first-class operation because that’s what Joe does.” Kerr looks forward to perhaps learning from some new perspectives brought into the fold for the women’s franchise “with similar goals but maybe a different way of doing things.” On hand for the announcement along with VanDerveer were former player and current California coach Charmin Smith, WNBPA Director of Player Relations Jayne Appel and other former stars such as Sheryl Swoopes and Seimone Augustus. “The Bay Area is firmly aligned with our already strong fan base of diverse and engaged basketball fans,” Engelbert said “This is a hub for women’s sports with six Division I women’s basketball teams in the Bay Area, three which are represented today.” San Francisco Mayor London Breed reiterated what this moment means to the entire Bay Area, not just her city.