Sonics Likely Returning to Seattle

The long-awaited return of professional basketball to the Pacific Northwest just took a massive step toward reality. On March 25, 2026, the National Basketball Association officially announced that its Board of Governors voted to approve league expansion from 30 to 32 teams.

This landmark decision clears the most significant hurdle for bringing the Sonics back to Seattle. According to the NBA’s press release, the league will begin accepting bids from prospective ownership groups in the coming weeks.

The NBA expects to formally announce the two new expansion franchises by the end of 2026.

Seattle as the Clear Frontrunner

Seattle is widely positioned as a primary frontrunner to secure one of the two new franchise slots.

Industry experts and an ESPN report indicate that a growing number of NBA owners support a Seattle expansion because of the tremendous potential for long-term revenue growth. In fact, industry executives estimate that a Seattle-based team would immediately rank among the NBA’s top eight revenue generators.

The Bidding War Begins

To reach this point, the expansion proposal required a two-thirds majority vote, meaning at least 23 of the 30 current team owners had to signal their approval to expand the league.

With that vote now successfully passed, the focus shifts entirely to the prospective ownership groups who will vie for the opportunity.

While the wait has spanned nearly two decades, the timeline is now concrete. If a Seattle-based ownership group submits a winning bid, the Emerald City could be celebrating the official return of the Sonics by the end of 2026.