WNBA expansion: Celtics star Jayson Tatum to join ownership bid to bring franchise to St. Louis - Reports

By Orlando Silva

Modified Nov 02, 2024 19:17 GMT

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Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is reportedly trying to bring a WNBA expansion team to a 'special' city. According to Sportico's Jacob Feldman, the 2024 NBA champion is 'exploring' the option of bringing a WNBA team to St. Louis, his native city.

This move can be seen as Tatum leaving an imprint in the NBA on the court and also off the field with the WNBA, which continues to expand its roster of teams to compete for the title season after season.

Next year, the Golden State Valkyries will become the first expansion team since the Atlanta Dream in 2008. Franchises in Toronto and Miami will debut in 2026, and after that, the possibilities are anybody's guess. St. Louis has only two teams in the four major American leagues (the Cardinals in the MLB and the Blues in the NHL).

“Tatum has informally agreed to invest in the team should it come to fruition and contribute behind the scenes to the group’s pitch, both to other potential big-name investors and the league itself, according to sources involved with the bid,” Feldman reported on Oct. 31.

Ahead of the Charlotte Hornets's matchup on Friday night, Jayson Tatum declined to speak about it but hinted that he would do so when he can talk more about it.

“I can’t speak on it too much right now, but there will be a time when I can, and I’ll be able to elaborate,” Tatum said.

Tatum has a deep connection with this city, and he's never been shy about his desire to celebrate it. Landing a WNBA franchise would be significant, but JT would face strong competition from other high-profile names trying to do the same for different places.

Patrick & Brittany Mahomes reportedly interested in emulating Jayson Tatum and bringing a WNBA franchise to Kansas City

Earlier this week, Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany were mentioned as potential owners of an expansion WNBA team. The Mahomes are among the most powerful couples in sports and have experience being members of ownership groups of several teams across different sports.

It's unclear if their plan will somehow affect that of Jayson Tatum. But considering the pedigree of Patrick Mahomes and Tatum, it shouldn't be odd to see the WNBA accept the options of Kansas City and St. Louis. Other cities, like Nashville and Philadelphia, are also in the fray of getting a new WNBA franchise.