Women’s Professional Sports Initiative looking to bring teams to Nashville

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Women’s National Basketball Association game | Photo via @wnba

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One thing Nashville isn’t lacking: professional sports. One thing Nashville is lacking: professional women’s sports.

In the midst of all the excitement about football, hockey, baseball + soccer, it’s often easy to forget that women are underrepresented in Music City’s professional sports realm. What would Nashville be like + who would it attract if female-led teams shared the spotlight?

That’s one question Nashville’s Women’s Professional Sports Initiative is hoping to answer. The group, created by Metro Sports Authority, the Nashville Sports Council + city leaders, formed to study the viability of attracting major women’s teams to the city.

Currently, WPSI is seeking a consultant’s opinion on bringing the first professional women’s team to Nashville.

Since its creation in 2020, WPSI’s work has attracted the attention of the Women’s National Basketball Association, National Women’s Soccer League, National Women’s Hockey League, National Pro Fastpitch Softball League + various leaders in the sports industry.

What could this mean for Nashville?

The Nashville Sports Council has seen an economic impact of $900+ million through major sporting events over the last 25 years. Imagine if more professional teams + events were thrown into the mix.

While women’s sports bring in a historically lower amount than men’s, major events like the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup match in Birmingham, AL that brought in $10 million + the Volvo Car Open in Charleston, SC that brings in an estimated $30 million annually provide cities a substantial economic boost.

What would Nashville look like with professional women’s teams? We’re excited for the possibility of finding out. 🏀

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