Two new cities are hoping to convey WNBA groups to city because the league continues increasing: Detroit and Nashville.
These two bidders be part of a protracted listing of cities which have reportedly expressed curiosity in bringing skilled girls’s basketball to city, a listing that features Charlotte, Austin, Cleveland, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Houston, and Milwaukee.
Already, three groups are set to hitch the WNBA — the Golden State Valkyries in 2025, and the Toronto Tempo, and a yet-to-be-named Portland group in 2026. However, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said on quite a few events the league is hoping so as to add a sixteenth group, and because the reputation of the league has exploded, a rising listing of cities have entered the fold of WNBA enlargement.
Tennesse’s enlargement bid can be named after Pat Summitt
WNBA legend Candace Parker and NFL Corridor-of-Famer Peyton Manning are hoping to convey a group to Nashville, Tennessee, per Knox Information. The group, already named the Tennessee Summitt in honor of Woman Vols coach Pat Summitt, was formally revealed in a bid on Thursday. The bid is being led by Nashville Predators chairman Invoice Haslam, in addition to nation music stars Tim McGraw and Religion Hill. Its identify is especially becoming — Pat Summitt, who handed away in 2016, is without doubt one of the winningness coaches in NCAA historical past. If the bid was accepted, the group would play at Bridgestone Enviornment, starting in 2028.
Invoice Haslam has introduced his bid for the WNBA’s ultimate enlargement group: the Tennessee Summitt.
The group’s possession group consists of Candace Parker, Religion Hill and Tim McGraw, and Peyton Manning. pic.twitter.com/CkbhlL0PnY
— Entrance Workplace Sports activities (@FOS) January 30, 2025
Detroit goals for a WNBA group nearly 15 years after the Shock left down
Detroit is one other metropolis vying for the WNBA’s sixteenth group. Detroit Pistons proprietor Tom Gores is hoping to convey skilled girls’s basketball again to the town and submitted an official bid; the Detroit Shock was one of many WNBA’s hottest franchises for 12 seasons, successful three championships and recurrently main the league in attendance.
However, the group was offered and transfer to Tulsa in 2010 — and in 2015, Tulsa Shock majority proprietor Invoice Cameron moved the franchise to the Dallas space. At present, that franchise is the Dallas Wings.
“That is an thrilling alternative to welcome the WNBA again to Detroit and convey further funding and financial exercise into the town,” Gores mentioned. “For the WNBA that is residence, and our bid represents an unprecedented alternative for the league to return full circle and impact a long-hoped-for Detroit homecoming. No metropolis is extra ready to embrace the group as a neighborhood asset that drives unity and customary floor.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmore and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan expressed fervent assist for the bid.
“Michiganders are fired up,” Whitmer mentioned. “Our ardour for our groups and gamers is unmatched, our dedication to our communities stays unwavering, and our imaginative and prescient for girls’s sports activities is crystal clear. My administration stands able to assist this franchise’s success.”
The group would play at Little Caesars Enviornment, the place the Pistons play. The bid additionally consists of plans for a brand-new apply facility and group headquarters.
The battle for the WNBA’s sixteenth group will probably be extremely aggressive, with practically a dozen cities within the fold. This week, it solely received difficult.