The WNBA expansion process is taking a little longer than expected. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Athletic the league would not announce a new expansion site by the end of the year.

Engelbert said in September she would love to make an expansion announcement by the end of 2022. The league, however, is still in the process of gathering information. Engelbert said she doesn't consider this a delay, per The Athletic.

Engelbert said the league received "a ton of interest" from cities, more than she originally expected. She added that the league is considering 10 ownership groups. She mentioned that same number in September.

The league anticipates the expansion team won't be ready to play until 2025 at the earliest. Once the team starts playing, it will mark the first time since 2008 — the Atlanta Dream's first season — that a new team joined the WNBA.