Former NBA player Michael Carter-Williams is leading the charge to bring a WNBA franchise to Boston, whether through expansion or by attracting a current team looking to relocate. As part of The Boston Women’s Basketball Partners group, Carter-Williams expresses their readiness to host a team in Boston, with all necessary arrangements in place for a home venue and practice facility. However, the group has yet to officially submit a bid to the WNBA, despite engaging with the league’s designated company for expansion bids. Boston recently hosted a packed WNBA game at TD Garden, and another game is scheduled there this year, showcasing the city’s potential as a thriving market for women’s basketball. While Carter-Williams’ group remains open to the possibility of acquiring a team like the Connecticut Sun, no discussions have surfaced regarding the team’s sale. With the expansion bid deadline passed, acquiring an existing team appears to be the most viable route for Boston to secure a WNBA franchise. The WNBA has already announced expansion plans for three new teams, leading to heightened competition among interested cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Houston, each backed by prominent sports figures. The WNBA Board of Governors has yet to formally vote on adding a 16th team, hinting at a dynamic landscape as more cities express interest in joining the league.
Sheila Ford Hamp and her husband, the principal owners of the Detroit Lions, along with the chief executive officer and chair of General Motors Company, are part of the group interested in WNBA expansion bids. Former NBA Hall of Famer and Rookie of the Year Grant Hill is also involved in the venture. Tilman Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets, has submitted a bid to bring a WNBA franchise to Houston, potentially playing at the Toyota Center. The Houston Comets, who won the first four WNBA titles, are being considered for a resurrection after disbanding in 2008. The Charlotte Hornets are backing efforts to revive the Sting franchise.
Expansion bids are also being explored in Kansas City, Austin, and St. Louis. Celebrity athletes are lending their support to these bids, with Patrick Mahomes endorsing Kansas City’s expansion hopes, Jayson Tatum backing St. Louis, and Kevin Durant advocating for Austin, Texas. Mahomes, the star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing basketball to the city and highlighted the strong support for sports in the community. Durant, speaking in Austin, praised the city’s rich basketball culture and expressed confidence in its potential for women’s basketball at the highest level.
The Philadelphia 76ers have also submitted a bid for WNBA expansion, with plans for a new sports complex in the city that would house both the NBA team and the Flyers. The addition of Philadelphia to the WNBA map could facilitate travel and create rivalries with teams in New York, Washington, and Connecticut.
