Latest news with #women'sbasketball
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$30 million WNBA practice facility included in Capital Improvements Budget
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Council unanimously approved the Capital Improvements Budget from fiscal year 2025-2026 through fiscal year 2030-2031, and it sets aside $30 million for a WNBA practice facility. Advertisement In a note on the allocation, Metro Council explains that the funding is meant to attract professional women's basketball to Music City. For fiscal year 2026, there's been a funding request of $30,000. According to Metro, the Capital Improvements Budget is 'a list of recommended capital improvements to the Mayor,' meaning that it acts more like a wishlist for city leaders than a steadfast budget. All infrastructure projects still require additional approval from departments like the Metro Planning Commission. RELATED: What's in the Capital Improvements Budget? Former Tennessee governor and owner of the Nashville Predators Bill Haslam and a group of investors have worked to bring a professional women's team to Nashville for years. They submitted a bid in January to create the team, which could be dubbed the 'Tennessee Summit' to honor legendary Tennessee Volunteers Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt. Advertisement When the submission was announced, Haslam and other ownership partners said they wanted to develop 'a world-class practice facility' for the WNBA team that would also serve as a hub for youth basketball in the Nashville area. JANUARY | 'Tennessee Summitt': Former governor, investors make bid to bring WNBA team to Nashville 'Having a WNBA team in Nashville will definitely attract more residents more businesses to Nashville,' Metro Councilmember Jennifer Gamble said. Gamble added that she supports the WNBA coming to Nashville, believing the team would continue to positively transform the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
As the WNBA expands, Chicago Sky players are looking ahead to new CBA after rejecting the league's 1st offer
The WNBA is about to be bigger than ever. The league announced a major expansion last week, bringing in new teams in Philadelphia, Cleveland and Detroit — in addition to already announced teams in Toronto and Portland — over the next five seasons. Advertisement For players such as Chicago Sky center and WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams, this growth is a sign of necessary change. The league is growing at a rapid pace. It's consistently breaking records for viewership, attendance and revenue. And as a result, the players union feels empowered to ask for more amid negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. After rejecting the league's initial CBA proposal last week, the WNBPA is trying to make a point: Growth should be universal for the league and its players alike. 'The league is saying that we're growing, we're expanding, business is booming,' Williams said. 'That's a sign to us that some of the things that we're asking for are not unrealistic.' Expansion has been a primary goal of the WNBA for years. But initial responses to the three new teams around the league were mixed. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham drew particular ire after saying she didn't 'know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or (Cleveland)' for games. Advertisement Sky forward Angel Reese and Williams voiced more enthusiasm for the incoming teams, noting the rich history of women's basketball in Detroit and Cleveland and the passionate sports fandom of Philadelphia. But their excitement for the league's growth was tempered by the reality of the ongoing CBA negotiations. 'Obviously (we're) super excited to continue to grow and more players can be in this league, because this league is great,' Reese said. 'There are a lot of great players out there that don't have an opportunity to play right now.' The expansion news came in the midst of bargaining as the league prepared to present its first offer. Phoenix Mercury player representative Satou Sabally described the initial offer as a 'slap in the face.' Williams used softer language but agreed the league's vision remains distant from player expectations. Advertisement 'We still feel like they're not really hearing us clearly and fully in what we're asking for,' Williams said. First and foremost, players are advocating for a major hike to the salary cap. WNBA teams currently are allowed to spend slightly more than $1.5 million on their entire roster. (In contrast, the minimum salary for an NBA rookie contract is roughly $1.1 million.) A supermax contract in the WNBA is worth just under $250,000 per year. But it's not just about the money — players also are advocating for increased benefits and improved working conditions. That could include the expansion of rosters, currently capped at 12 players per team. Related Articles Advertisement Most players and coaches agree that one additional roster spot would prove beneficial to the health and development of the league, providing deeper rotations and better options for teams that lose players to season-ending injuries. Williams noted that expanding rosters to 15 players (the same number as an NBA roster) would present challenges because WNBA games are 40 minutes as opposed to 48 in the NBA. That could mean end-of-the-bench players on an expanded roster would see minimal playing time — if they got on the court at all. But Sky coach Tyler Marsh is one of many advocating heavily for increased rosters as a way of both preventing and adapting to injuries. 'It helps a lot with durability,' Marsh said. 'It's a long, tough, grueling season. (We) don't really have a true offseason for those that play overseas or those that play in other leagues. Advertisement 'Being able to have another roster spot or two allows you to be able to rest some players at times, to get a little bit more for the long run out of your players, so you don't have that same wear and tear on their bodies.' The future is uncertain for both the league and its players. The current CBA expires Oct. 31, at which point the union will be on the clock to cement a new deal in time for the 2026 season. Training camps traditionally start in late April — this year they opened April 27 — which gives the parties almost six months to negotiate before nearing a potential work stoppage. Will a compromise be reached in that time? Or will the WNBA see its first lockout next spring? Advertisement The upcoming months of negotiations will be pivotal for both the league's expansion and the landscape of professional women's basketball in the U.S.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA to expand by 3 teams by 2030
The post WNBA to expand by 3 teams by 2030 appeared first on ClutchPoints. The WNBA has been on a meteoric rise over the past few years. A new generation of players, led by Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, have fueled a new level of excitement about women's basketball. The league made a major announcement on Monday about accelerating their expansion efforts. Advertisement The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams over the next five years, per Doug Feinberg of The Associated Press. There will be new expansion franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. 'The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,' WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. 'This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball.' Cleveland will join the W in 2028, making it the 16th franchise in the league. Detroit will join 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. The WNBA is also set to welcome both Toronto and Portland into the league for the 2026 season. Each team paid a $250 million expansion fee. That is five times as much as the Golden State Valkyries paid just a few years ago. Advertisement Detroit and Cleveland will play at the NBA arenas that currently exist in each city. Philadelphia is planning on a new building that will be completed by 2030. Other cities that bid on teams include St. Louis, Kansas City, Austin, Nashville, Houston, Miami, Denver, and Charlotte. Does this mean that the Cleveland Rockers, Detroit Shock are returning to the WNBA? D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports All three of the W's new cities have a history with women's basketball. Both Cleveland and Detroit were once part of the WNBA in the 2000s. The ownership groups for both expansion teams said that the Rockers and Shock would be considered as the names of the new teams. However, they also noted that they would do their due diligence before deciding on what to call the new expansion franchises. Advertisement 'Rockers will be a part of the mix for sure, but we are at this point, we're not going to commit to a brand identity because we want to really get into it with our fans, do some research, be very thorough and thoughtful in that process,' Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group and the Cavaliers, said. Meanwhile, Philadelphia had a team in the American Basketball League, which played between 1996-98. The WNBA is hopeful that this new collection of east coast teams will create more natural rivalries with on another. 'I think there's some great historical rivalries in the NBA among these cities and, I think that will carry over to the WNBA,' Detroit Pistons vice president Arn Tellem said. 'I would love nothing more to have a rivalry like we do in the NBA with Cleveland and Indiana, Philadelphia and New York and all these great cities and, and I think we will.' The next handful of year will be very exciting for the WNBA. Related: Napheesa Collier, others call out WNBA officiating Related: DeWanna Bonner's cryptic message hints at reason for Fever breakup
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA Announces 3 More U.S. Cities Are Getting Franchises
WNBA Announces 3 More U.S. Cities Are Getting Franchises originally appeared on The Spun. The WNBA is expanding. The league announced on Monday, June 30 that three more U.S. cities are getting teams. In recent years, the league has added teams in San Francisco (2025), Portland (2026) and Toronto (2026). However, the league isn't done growing. Advertisement WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the big news on Monday morning, June 30. The league's commissioner announced that Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia will all be getting WNBA franchises. Cleveland will begin play in 2028 while Detroit and Philadelphia will begin play in 2029. All three ownership groups paid a $250 million expansion fee. It's about five times as much as Golden State's ownership group paid. The three ownership groups will also be investing money into practice facilities and more. The WNBA will officially reach 18 teams by 2030. 'The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,' Engelbert said. 'This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball.' May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) shake hands before the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group and the Cavaliers, is excited for Cleveland. Advertisement 'It's such a natural fit that when you already have this basketball-related infrastructure, these strategies, cultures that you find to be successful, combinations of personnel that you find to be successful,' he said. 'Extending that into the WNBA, is just a natural next progression, especially if you have a desire to grow like we do.' Detroit is excited, too. 'This is a huge win for Detroit and the WNBA,' Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores said. 'Today marks the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition. Detroit played a key role in the league's early growth, and we're proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends to new heights. Our plans will bring new energy, investment and infrastructure to our city and the WNBA, and additional resources to our community.' Advertisement It'll be fun to see just how much the WNBA can continue to grow moving forward. WNBA Announces 3 More U.S. Cities Are Getting Franchises first appeared on The Spun on Jun 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fever's Sophie Cunningham Had Strong Words After WNBA's Big Change
Fever's Sophie Cunningham Had Strong Words After WNBA's Big Change originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The WNBA made a landmark announcement on Monday: the league will expand to 18 teams by 2030, welcoming franchises in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030). Advertisement Each new ownership group, led respectively by Dan Gilbert, Tom Gores and the Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment consortium, paid a record $250 million expansion fee. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert hailed the move as "a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum," pointing to the depth of talent across the league and surge in commercial value and investment in women's basketball. But for the Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham, the decision was one to approach with caution. When asked on Tuesday about the league's choice of expansion markets, Cunningham acknowledged the upside of more roster spots but questioned whether Detroit or Cleveland would ignite sustained fan passion. Advertisement "You just get more opportunities," she said, "and so I get that aspect. But I also think that you want to listen to your players, too—where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans? I do think that Miami would have been a great one. Like, everyone loves Florida. Nashville is an amazing city. Kansas City, amazing opportunity... But man, I don't know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or Cleveland." A 2019 second‑round pick (No. 13 overall) out of Missouri, Cunningham arrived in Indiana via a four‑team trade in February after six seasons with Phoenix. At Missouri, she left as the program's all‑time leading scorer (2,187 points) and free‑throw leader (537), earning Third‑team All‑American honors in 2019. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) dribbles against the Atlanta Dream in the first half at State Farm Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images This season with the Fever, she's averaged 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game, shooting 34% from the field and a career‑best 94.1% from the foul line. Advertisement Cunningham's comments reflect a balancing act for the WNBA: how to harness an unprecedented growth spurt, fueled by breakout stars like her teammate Caitlin Clark, without diluting the on‑court product or stretching talent too thin. Related: Stephanie White Breaks Silence After Missing Chicago Sky Game Related: WNBA Reacts to Caitlin Clark's Actions During Chicago Sky Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
