The Denver Gazette sports business insider is a reader’s guide to understanding the influence of money, politics and power behind their favorite leagues, teams and players:

Sports business insider: Denver is not considered a frontrunner for WNBA expansion in 2028.

Short version: WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said last April the league expected to add a 16th team by the 2028 season. Denver is one of 13 U.S. cities to have reportedly submit a formal bid. However, according to a report in Sports Business Journal, the next franchise will most likely be in Cleveland with an expected league-record bid of $250 million.

Long version: The Mile High City has tried for several years to land a WNBA team.

In 2023, a Denver-based investment group that included Rob Cohen — now the controlling owner of Denver’s recently awarded NWSL expansion — was in contention to be named among three new teams planned for expansion. The WNBA instead chose Golden State (2025), Toronto (2026) and Portland (2026) as their next team locations.

They aren’t done growing anytime soon. Cleveland reportedly is next. But the WNBA could “award one or two more franchises to bring its league total to 18 clubs” by 2029 or 2030, according to the Sports Business Journal.

Here are 13 cities with reported bids for WNBA expansion:

—Austin, Texas

—Charlotte, N.C.

—Cleveland

—Denver

—Detroit

—Houston

—Jacksonville, Fla.

—Kansas City

—Philadelphia

—Miami

—Milwaukee

—Nashville, Tenn.

—St. Louis

Key context: Two figures behind Denver’s latest WNBA push are Ashley Dimond (Copford Capital Management principal) and Bryan Leach (Ibotta founder and CEO), per the Denver Business Journal.

Their bid likely requires a new playing venue and/or practice facility. Ball Arena is the only feasible option with Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke currently not involved with the WNBA. But momentum currently exists for women’s professional sports in Colorado after it successfully landed an NWSL expansion team.

Looking ahead: The WNBA reportedly lost $40 million last season, though its popularity is viewed to be on an upward trajectory. Generational stars like Indiana Fever guard Caitlyn Clark have elevated the game. In 2024, the league reported its most-watched regular season in 24 years and its highest attendance in 22 years. The value of teams has skyrocketed, too.

The Golden State Valkyries were announced in 2023 after paying a $50 million expansion fee to the WNBA. The ownership groups in Toronto and Portland each paid more than $100 million when announced last year. The future cost for WNBA hopeful cities is now projected to more than double.

Denver needs continued high-profile support (and plenty of cash) to help eventually make a successful bid.