Magic Johnson pens heartfelt message to Cathy Engelbert after bold new WNBA league move

I

n a major step forward for women’s professional basketball, the WNBA has officially announced three new expansion teams set to launch in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

The league confirmed that all three franchises will be rolled out over the next five years. This move has stirred excitement across the sports world, most notably from NBA legend Magic Johnson. The Los Angeles Lakers legend shared his admiration for Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s leadership and the league’s remarkable progress.

Magic Johnson celebrates Cathy Engelbert’s new WNBA move as she announced the expansion of 3 more teams in the league

Magic Johnson took to social media to applaud Engelbert’s announcement, calling it a milestone for women’s sports.

“I’m thrilled to hear the news that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert is expanding the WNBA with the addition of 3 new teams – Cleveland, Philadelphia and Detroit! The expansion is a testament to the league’s rising popularity, the incredible talent of women athletes, and the growing demand from fans,” he wrote on X.

“These new teams will provide more opportunities for women to play professionally in the WNBA and greater visibility for the league.

It marks a historic step forward not just for the WNBA, but for the continued growth and recognition of women's sports globally. With the new TV deal and now the expansion of the league, I believe this will have a direct and substantial impact on the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) as well! The future is bright for the WNBA and all of women's professional sports,” he added.In a follow-up post, Johnson shared the significance of this expansion.

“What I meant to say was: What a moment for the @WNBA! Three new teams in Cleveland, Philly, and Detroit is big-time! It reminds me of when the NBA started adding more squads and the whole game changed. This is how you know women’s hoops is on fire right now,” he said.“With all the talent in the league, these new teams are going to make things even more competitive and open doors for a whole new wave of stars. Add in the new TV deal, and you’ve got a recipe for even more eyes on the league.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this sets off a wave for women’s soccer and beyond. The WNBA just keeps getting stronger, and I love it.”During her official announcement, Engelbert said, “The demand for women's basketball has never been higher.” She added, “This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball.”Also Read: LeBron James and Magic Johnson paid heartfelt tribute to Candace Parker following WNBA legend’s major honorWith ownership from established NBA teams, including Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers and Josh Harris’ Sixers, the new WNBA franchises promise strong backing. The $250 million expansion fee per team. Engelbert said the decision was backed by strong analytics: “They’re a ready-made operation... All the data we’ve been looking at as it relates to what would make a successful franchise.”