Caitlin Clark Is Bullish About WNBA's Growth as League Swells to 15 Teams

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark sees the WNBA's 2026 expansion as a step in the right direction. The league officially welcomes two new franchises this season, the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire.

The WNBA also added the Golden State Valkyries last season, growing from 12 to 15 teams. Clark believes the development is a win not just for the league, but for women's basketball as a whole.

She remained optimistic about the sport's continued growth in an exclusive interview with Kyle Wood of Athlon Sports.

"I think, as you've seen, the demand for the WNBA is as high as it's ever been," she said. "That's why we've had expansion. When I first got into the league, there were 12 teams; now we're up to 15.

"We were able to add, I think, almost 50-plus spots with this new CBA, you know, requiring 12 to a roster, you have the two developmental spots, plus the addition of two new teams. So, you know, as we know, the demand is crazy. Fans want to watch it, fans want to be in seats, so super excited."

Clark is equally excited about visiting two new cities on the road this season. The Fever star has consistently packed opposing arenas throughout her career. She looks forward to bringing that energy to Portland and Toronto.

"Getting to travel to two new places and play the game, that's always fun for myself," she added. "Portland and Toronto will be really cool, getting to play there, and then both their fan bases will be great. So it's a really big year for our league. I think this is the 30th season, so I'm excited."

The WNBA's expansion push does not stop there. The league has approved franchises in Cleveland for 2028, Detroit for 2029 and Philadelphia for 2030. Women's basketball is on track to reach even more markets in the years ahead.

For Clark, more teams mean more competition, and that is exactly the kind of challenge she welcomes.

Related: Indiana Fever Players Rally Around Rookie After Injury

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 9:40 AM.