Austin Seeks WNBA Expansion Amidst Strong Competition

Fran Harris, a former Texas Longhorns basketball champion, is leading a multimillion-dollar bid to bring a WNBA franchise to Austin, Texas, as the league plans to expand to 16 teams by 2028. With the Golden State Valkyries set to join in 2025 and new teams in Toronto and Portland in 2026, Austin is competing against other cities like Philadelphia and Miami for the final expansion slot. Harris, who played for the WNBA's Houston Comets, emphasizes Austin's strong support for women's basketball, pointing to the city's facilities and corporate backing. She has secured a primary investor but has not revealed their identity. The WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, supports expansion, having already announced plans for additional teams, and Harris is hopeful Austin will be chosen due to its historical appreciation for women's sports. Meanwhile, the mayor of Philadelphia has also expressed interest in hosting a WNBA team, highlighting the competitive nature of the expansion bids.