In a time where equality is becoming a more and more important topic of discussion, an increased emphasis has been placed on women’s sports. Historically, these women’s sports have been thrown to the side and wrongfully disregarded due to the fewer views and attendance revenue that they bring in comparison to their male counterparts. But due to an increased screen time of women’s sports on nationally televised stations, such as ESPN, and vocal support from professional male athletes, women’s sports are once again on the rise. The WNBA is no exception.
Over the past couple of years, the WNBA has experienced increased popularity in the sports world. Aided by the rise of certain superstars, such as Sue Bird and the young Sabrina Ionescu, the WNBA has been able to generate a competitive product that is drawing in increased attention. Fortunately, there is still room for growth.
Currently, there are only 12 WNBA teams in the country and in the league. This is a shockingly low number, especially when compared to the 30 teams the NBA currently hosts. This is where the opportunity for future expansion currently lies, as there are a plethora of cities that are prepared to host a team relatively soon.
When determining which cities could soon host a WNBA team, one of the most important aspects to keep in mind is the market for a team. A city would hope to have a decent size population that would be devoted to the team, allowing for revenue to be generated from fan attendance. One city that currently does not have a WNBA team, but would be a serviceable host is Boston. Home to the Boston Celtics, the city of Boston already has a fanbase that is loyal and devoted to their current basketball team and would welcome a WNBA team with open arms. This storied basketball city would be a perfect east coast landing spot for a team, giving them an already large market to draw fans from.
Salt Lake City is another potential option for a new WNBA franchise. Though the market may not be as large, the city is already home to the Utah Jazz, which would give the team an already developed stadium to share and would give the team a city where there is little other professional sports to draw away from their potential fanbase.
Nashville, Tennessee would be another good landing spot for a WNBA team, as the city is heavily populated but does not host any professional basketball teams currently.