The Big Apple's not getting a WNBA team just yet, but Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has her sights set on a national expansion, and yes folks – Music City might be getting a bit more athletic. In a recent press conference, Engelbert spilled the beans on her grand vision: sixteen WNBA teams by 2028. With places like Nashville, Philadelphia, and Toronto in the mix, it's not just about the tunes and cheesesteaks, it’s also about slam dunks and three-pointers. According to a WSMV report, these cities could be the next to cheer for some women's hoops.

Now, I know what you're thinking, are we getting an NYC team? Well, hold your horses because while Engelbert did throw out names like Denver, Portland, Nashville, and even South Florida – there was no mention of expanding to the city that never sleeps. This info comes straight from a press conference in Brooklyn, so don't shoot the messenger. The commissioner did explain the league's strategy to the press, "Our plan, and goal, is to get to sixteen teams in the next few years," as she was quoted in the same WSMV story. While NYC might be sitting this dance out, the future's looking bright for other cities itching for some professional women's basketball action.

As for Nashville's chances, they're singing all the right notes. Following the 2024 WNBA Draft, Commissioner Engelbert laid out a few specifics about the league's expansion blueprints. Not only is the music capital on the league's radar, but the WNBA also announced a new team coming to the Bay Area in 2025, per an article from the Bleacher Report. That team will be the league's thirteenth squad, inching closer to Engelbert's sweet sixteen.

Engelbert did play a bit of musical chairs with potential cities. Just last year she mentioned Austin and Charlotte as expansion contenders, but this year's list had some new contenders, notably leaving out the Lou's city and the Queen City, as reported by the Tennessean. As for a timeline, a new team is expected to bounce onto the court by 2026, so mark your calendars and keep your eyes peeled – the game's about to change.

The league has come a long way since the original eight in '97, with teams like the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream broadening the horizons in recent years. As for Nashville's potential slam dunk into the WNBA, their final score is yet to be seen, but Commissioner Engelbert seems determined to add a little southern comfort to the league's lineup. The goalpost is set for 2028, and if Engelbert has her way, fans in these cities could soon be swapping their guitars and pucks for basketballs.