A number of University of Tennessee legends are eyeing a new venture for their state — a WNBA expansion team.
On Thursday, Bill Haslam — chairman of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and former governor of the state of Tennessee — and his wife Crissy said they were leading a group of investors in the submission of a WNBA expansion team bid. Candace Parker, a three-time WNBA champion and two-time NCAA champion at Tennessee, and former Tennessee star quarterback Peyton Manning will also be partners in the bid, per the group.
The group said they planned to submit a bid Thursday afternoon in hopes of bringing a franchise to Nashville for the 2028 season.
“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,” Bill 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.”
The group is proposing to name the team the “Tennessee Summitt,” in honor of former Lady Vols coach Pat…
