That leaves New England rejected and dejected.
The principals in charge of orchestrating a logical WNBA and Boston betrothal didn’t have much encouraging to say. Boston is decidedly on the back burner for the W. That’s a shame and a missed opportunity for the league to plant its flag in the greatest sports city in America and the home of the most storied franchise in NBA history. The apparent apathy is baffling and frustrating.
The WNBA declined to comment when asked about the future of the Boston market. The rub is that the league views the conversation as a false start. Boston has never formally or properly expressed interest in having a franchise to the league. The prior Celtics ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck, never indicated interest.
Boston must first woo the WNBA, preferably via current Celtics owner Bill Chisholm and his ownership group, then wait in line behind the serious suitor cities that have already expressed their affection and spelled out their plans. It’s like a basketball version of “The Bachelorette,” and Boston isn’t even invited to the rose ceremony.
When contacted about bringing a WNBA team to Boston, the Celtics, through a team spokesman, referred back to Chisholm’s comments at his introductory press conference in September.
“It’s definitely something we’re going to look at,” he said then. “I know the WNBA has a process. We’re going to do what we can to expedite things, but there is a process there. But philosophically, it makes sense.”
With Houston and Philadelphia appeased, Boston is the largest NBA market (No. 10 as measured by Nielsen Designated Market Area for viewership) without a WNBA franchise. We can be parochial. So, it’s worth mentioning that the W is also severing ties with the rich history of women’s basketball boosterism in the state of Connecticut, fueled by the UConn women’s juggernaut. Not ideal.
Heather Diehl/For The Boston Globe
The league appreciates the state’s role in growing the WNBA, but it’s the appreciation of the league’s value that is driving decisions these days. That’s why Connecticut’s efforts to keep the team in the Nutmeg State by financing a minority stake in the Sun were rebuffed. Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry also made a $325 million bid to move the Sun to Hartford that was rejected by the WNBA on the same grounds as Pagliuca’s foray: that “relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.”
The league’s preference is funneling franchises to NBA owners like Fertitta, who was among the failed expansion bidders. The WNBA isn’t a charity. It’s a valuable property that NBA owners feel they’ve subsidized for three decades. It’s time for their return on investment.
The WNBA is gaining in popularity, fueled by marketable stars Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu. The league shattered its attendance record last year, drawing 3.15 million fans, well above the previous record of 2.36 million set in 2002 with 16 clubs, and a 34 percent jump from 2024.
The league and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association recently agreed on a landmark seven-year collective bargaining agreement that will raise the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million this season, increase the maximum salary from $249,244 to $1.4 million, and raise the average salary from $120,000 to $583,000. Those numbers increase notably throughout the deal.
The WNBA acknowledges Boston is a great market. But there are a lot of logistics that must be painstakingly painted in a bid: arena availability, lease terms, devoted locker rooms for WNBA players, a practice facility, and local housing for players. It’s not just about an enticing market. (Of course, those details can be worked out, as Pags, willing to spend $100 million on a practice facility, proved.)
The Sun have sold out WNBA games at TD Garden the last two summers. Even Governor Maura Healey, a former professional hooper in Austria, campaigned for Boston to get a team when the Garden hosted WNBA action last summer.
“Hopefully, they get a team,” said Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell after the Fever defeated the Sun in front of 19,156 last July. “I’ve never been in Boston. Unbelievable city. It’s nice. It’s pretty. I don’t see why they wouldn’t in the future.”
The Sun will host the Los Angeles Sparks at TD Garden on Aug. 18. That could be the last we see here of the WNBA for a while unless the league adjusts its game plan to post up in Boston.
Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @cgasper and on Instagram @cgaspersports.
