They’re playin’ bask-et-ball... or they could be, anyways. If approved, a submitted bid would make Nashville the WNBA’s 16th team by 2028.
The key players leading the proposed expansion include former Gov. Bill Haslam and Crissy Haslam, alongside Candace Parker, Peyton Manning, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill. The Tennessee Summitt, named after the late University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, would play at Bridgestone Arena with a separate practice facility modeled after Ford Ice Centers.
Though the timeline is unclear, the league is likely still months away from selecting a bid. Music City could be up against other large metros like Philadelphia, Austin, Kansas City, Denver, and Cleveland.
What people are saying
Mayor Freddie O’Connell has expressed his support for the expansion, adding that the bid is not asking anything of Metro.
“You’ve got a lot of people who are coming here already to get involved in collegiate athletics and specifically women’s basketball, so I think there is somewhat of a fan base built in,” O’Connell told the Nashville Business Journal.
As for those in the community who commented on our Instagram post, their thoughts are a bit more mixed. While Angie K. is already prepared to sign up for season tickets, several users pointed back to the buzz of a local Major League Baseball team.
Luis P. said, “While we’re at it, how about an MLB team as well. It’ll spark crazy new interest in both sports.”
