Cortez Masto Leads Nevada Delegation in Urging NBA to Expand to Las Vegas

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led the Nevada Congressional delegation of Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) as well as Representatives Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Mark Amodei (R-Nev.-02), Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03), and Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04) in a letter to National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver urging the league to select Las Vegas for a future expansion team. The Members argue that Nevada's rich basketball history and current success as a premier sporting destination make Las Vegas a valuable addition to the league.

"We write as the Nevada Congressional delegation to reaffirm Las Vegas' strong partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and to underscore Las Vegas' commitment to supporting the league's continued presence and success in Nevada," write the Members. "For over 20 years, Las Vegas has hosted the NBA Summer League, growing significantly since its inception. From this success, a strong basketball legacy and serving as the host for the mid-season NBA Cup championship, we firmly believe that Las Vegas is an ideal home for NBA expansion. As you consider the future of the NBA, we strongly urge you to build on the League's local momentum by selecting Las Vegas as the site of a league franchise."

Nevada has a long history of basketball success. Since arriving in Nevada in 2018, the Las Vegas Aces have won WNBA championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025. The University of Nevada, Reno has won 23 conference championships in its more than 100-year history. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball program has won 12 conference championships, has reached four NCAA Final Fours, and triumphed over Duke University in the 1990 NCAA Championship game.

In addition to Las Vegas's history of basketball excellence and success hosting multiple high-profile sporting events, the Members also describe what makes Las Vegas a world-class destination deserving of an expansion team. They write: "With unmatched hospitality infrastructure, world-class venues, and a deeply rooted, ever-growing basketball fan base, Las Vegas is uniquely positioned to host a new NBA franchise. Expanding the NBA to Las Vegas would further strengthen the league's standing not only in the United States, but internationally, serving as a meaningful step towards increasing NBA reach into global markets. As one of the world's premier destination cities, Las Vegas already attracts millions of domestic and international visitors each year, offering the league a built-in global audience and unparalleled international exposure through our millions of visitors from around the globe."

Read the full letter here.

Senator Cortez Masto is a fierce advocate for Nevada's tourism economy and will continue to work to bolster and improve Las Vegas's global standing. Throughout 2025, the Senator demanded the Trump Administration reverse their policies and make constructive plans to combat declining international visitors to the U.S. and to strengthen the American travel and tourism sector. Cortez Masto also supports legislation to reverse funding cuts to the effective Brand USA travel promotion public-private partnership program.

###