Tennessee legends lead bid for WNBA expansion team in Nashville

Bill Haslam, Candace Parker, and Peyton Manning spearhead bid for a new WNBA franchise.

Chloe Kitts #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks warms up before the game against the Tennessee Lady Vols at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 27, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Randy Ahmad

A group of high-profile investors, including former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, WNBA legend Candace Parker, and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, has officially submitted a bid for a WNBA expansion team in Nashville. The group hopes to secure a franchise for the 2028 season, bringing professional women’s basketball to Tennessee for the first time.

Haslam, who also serves as chairman of the NHL’s Nashville Predators, announced on Thursday that he and his wife, Crissy Haslam, are leading the expansion effort. The proposal includes plans for the team to be named the “Tennessee Summitt” in honor of legendary Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt. The team would play at Bridgestone Arena, home of the Predators, with plans to construct a dedicated practice facility.

“We believe a WNBA team, based in Nashville, could serve as a beacon for girls and women, young and old, across Tennessee, while also creating more opportunities for sports fans as our community continues to grow,” Haslam said in a statement. “In building this new franchise, we will take inspiration from the Nashville Predators and its ‘community-first’ approach to running the business. This WNBA team will establish itself as a mainstay in Nashville and communities throughout the state of Tennessee.”

Nashville emerges as a leading contender for WNBA expansion

The WNBA has been in an expansion phase, aiming to increase the league to 16 teams by 2028. The Golden State Valkyries, set to debut in 2025, will be the league’s first new franchise since the Atlanta Dream’s introduction in 2008. Two additional teams are slated to launch in Toronto and Portland in 2026, leaving just one more available expansion slot.

With multiple cities expressing interest in securing the 16th WNBA team, Nashville faces stiff competition. Other contenders include Kansas City, St. Louis, Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia, each of which has seen prominent backers emerge in support of their bids. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has championed a bid for Kansas City, while Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has advocated for St. Louis. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and the Milwaukee Bucks ownership group have also submitted formal proposals.

Despite the competition, Haslam and his investment group are confident that Nashville presents a strong case for expansion. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged Nashville’s candidacy last year, telling The Tennessean, “I was very impressed with the young vibrancy and the music culture, because as the WNBA, we sit kind of at the intersection of sports, culture, women, diversity, inclusion, etc.”

Prominent Tennessee figures join the bid

In addition to Haslam, Parker, and Manning, the Nashville expansion bid has gained support from country music power couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The group expects additional investors to join as the bidding process moves forward. While the ownership of the new WNBA team would be separate from the Nashville Predators, the two groups will maintain close ties.

Pat Summitt’s son, Tyler Summitt, has also been consulted about the bid and has expressed his support for naming the team in honor of his late mother. Summitt, one of the most successful coaches in women’s basketball history, led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols to eight national championships and helped elevate the profile of women’s sports across the country.

City officials back the bid for professional women’s basketball

The push for a WNBA team in Nashville has gained strong support from city officials, who believe the expansion would be a significant milestone for the city’s sports landscape.

“Nashville is a great sports city, and the state of Tennessee is no stranger to great women’s basketball,” Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said in a statement. “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.”

Bringing a WNBA team to Nashville would mark a significant moment in Tennessee’s basketball history. The state has long been a powerhouse in women’s college basketball, with the University of Tennessee serving as a national leader in the sport. The city has also proven to be a strong market for professional sports, with the Predators, Tennessee Titans, and Nashville SC all enjoying passionate fan support.

Next steps in the WNBA expansion process

As the WNBA moves toward finalizing its 16th expansion team, Engelbert has emphasized the importance of a thorough evaluation process. Last fall, she stated that 10 to 12 cities were under consideration but that the league had decided to reassess its search and hire an investment banker to oversee the expansion process.

The bidding war for the final expansion slot is expected to intensify as more cities formalize their proposals. With strong financial backing and the legacy of Tennessee’s rich basketball history, Nashville remains a strong contender.

If successful, the Tennessee Summitt would be the second WNBA team in the southeastern United States, joining the Atlanta Dream. With women’s basketball gaining unprecedented momentum—fueled by record viewership, rising attendance, and growing sponsorship deals—Nashville’s bid represents an opportunity to expand the league into a city with a strong appetite for professional sports.

For now, the investors behind Nashville’s bid remain optimistic as they await further developments in the WNBA’s expansion plans.