Bay Area, CA - Exciting news is on the horizon for basketball fans in the Bay Area, as reports indicate that the Golden State Warriors are making significant strides towards introducing a WNBA franchise to the region.
Initial reports surfaced from The Athletic's Marcus Thompson II on Tuesday, citing inside sources, suggesting that the Warriors are on the brink of realizing their vision of a WNBA team gracing the Bay Area. This development was corroborated by NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole, who also cited sources and expressed confidence that the organization is gaining momentum in its pursuit of a WNBA franchise, with the possibility of it becoming a reality in the "near future."
While the deal has not been finalized, Thompson's report suggests that if successful, the team would establish its base in Oakland at the Warriors' practice facility and host games at the illustrious Chase Center in San Francisco.
This potential addition to the Bay Area sports landscape marks a significant return to women's professional basketball, as the region last hosted a women's basketball team in 1996 when the San Jose Lasers, owned by the current Warriors owner, Joe Lacob, competed in the American Basketball League. The ABL eventually folded in 1998, making way for the ascent of the WNBA.
Presently, the WNBA boasts 12 teams located in various cities across the United States, including Atlanta, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Indiana, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert had previously indicated a desire to expand the league by adding two additional teams by 2025.
With the Warriors recently estimated to be worth over an astounding $7 billion, they appear to possess both the financial stability and resources required to nurture and support a women's professional basketball team in the Bay Area, paving the way for an exciting new era in Bay Area basketball.