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 checklist 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 crew in 2026. However, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert has acknowledged on quite a few events the league is hoping so as to add a sixteenth crew, and because the reputation of the league has exploded, a rising checklist of cities have entered the fold of WNBA growth.
Tennesse’s growth bid can be named after Pat Summitt
WNBA legend Candace Parker and NFL Corridor-of-Famer Peyton Manning are hoping to convey a crew to Nashville, Tennessee, per Knox Information. The crew, already named the Tennessee Summitt in honor of Girl 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 crew would play at Bridgestone Area, starting in 2028.
Invoice Haslam has introduced his bid for the WNBA’s remaining growth crew: the Tennessee Summitt.
The crew’s possession group contains 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 crew virtually 15 years after the Shock left down
Detroit is one other metropolis vying for the WNBA’s sixteenth crew. 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, profitable three championships and usually main the league in attendance.
However, the crew 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 this time, that franchise is the Dallas Wings.
“That is an thrilling alternative to welcome the WNBA again to Detroit and convey extra funding and financial exercise into the town,” Gores stated. “For the WNBA that is residence, and our bid represents an unprecedented alternative for the league to come back full circle and impact a long-hoped-for Detroit homecoming. No metropolis is extra ready to embrace the crew as a group asset that drives unity and customary floor.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmore and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan expressed fervent help for the bid.
“Michiganders are fired up,” Whitmer stated. “Our ardour for our groups and gamers is unmatched, our dedication to our communities stays unwavering, and our imaginative and prescient for ladies’s sports activities is crystal clear. My administration stands able to help this franchise’s success.”
The crew would play at Little Caesars Area, the place the Pistons play. The bid additionally contains plans for a brand-new observe facility and crew headquarters.
The battle for the WNBA’s sixteenth crew will likely be extremely aggressive, with almost a dozen cities within the fold. This week, it solely received sophisticated.
