NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A group of investors, including a former governor of Tennessee, has made a bid to bring a professional women's basketball team to the Volunteer State.
Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife are reportedly leading a group of investors in the bid to bring a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team to Nashville. The bid will be submitted on Thursday, Jan. 30.
If the bid is successful, the Tennessee franchise will reportedly begin playing in the summer of 2028 at Bridgestone Arena.
According to a release, the ownership group has proposed naming the team the "Tennessee Summitt" in honor of former University of Tennessee coach Patt Summitt, who coached the Lady Vols for 38 years and won the NCAA Championship eight times.
“As a fierce competitor, my mom was proud of the Lady Vols’ championships and success, but she was also a huge advocate for women’s sports and women in leadership,” said Tyler Summitt, co-founder of the Pat Summitt Leadership Group and Pat Summitt Foundation. “I know she would be proud and honored to be included in the expansion of women’s professional basketball into Tennessee."
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In addition, the Haslams and ownership partners plan to construct and develop "a world-class practice facility for the Summitt." Officials said the future facility would also serve as a hub for youth basketball in the Nashville area. However, the location for the facility has yet to be determined.
“Nashville is a great sports city, and the state of Tennessee is no stranger to great women’s basketball,” said Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “The Haslams have stepped up to make a competitive bid for a WNBA franchise. A professional women’s sports team is the missing piece of Nashville’s landscape, and I’m thrilled with the possibility of adding to our great sports environment.”
Several celebrities and athletes have joined the expansion bid including Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Candace Parker and Peyton Manning.
The Tennessee Summitt has since created a Facebook and X page for "exclusive content and updates on the expansion bid process."
from WKRN News 2 https://ift.tt/8JTd5QU
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