Tennessee is officially in the running to host the 16th WNBA franchise, as an ownership group including retired basketball icon Candace Parker, NFL legend Peyton Manning, former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam, and country music stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw announced Nashville’s bid on Thursday.
Led by Haslam and his wife, Crissy, the investor group has named the prospective 2028 expansion team the Tennessee Summitt, in honor of the late legendary University of Tennessee coach Pat Summitt.
“We recognize the emergence of professional sports for women across the globe, at the same time observing the void in our state,” Haslam said in a statement. “We believe a WNBA team, based in Nashville, could serve as a beacon for girls and women, young and old, across Tennessee.”
Parker’s “pinch-me moment”
Three-time WNBA champion Parker, who won two NCAA titles with Tennessee under Summitt, took to social media to mark what she called “a real pinch-me moment.”
“If you know me, you know how important and impactful Coach Summitt IS on my life,” Parker wrote. “Coach makes me the best version of myself as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, teammate, and person. I’m honored that we are submitting a…
