The WNBA is about to see a thunderous rise. Athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have led a fresh wave of fans watching the sport. Furthermore, the next crop of players has some breathtaking talents such as JuJu Watkins. Likewise, with a greater fan reach, the WNBA is looking to expand and how. People wanted an NBA expansion, but WNBAs got fire on their heels. And what better city than the city of the reigning champions – Boston?

Former NBA player Michael Carter-Williams is headlining to push to add a franchise in Boston. Notably, the WNBA begins its expansion plans alongside Boston actor Donnie Wahlberg. Having become a long-time fan of women’s basketball, it was a no-brainer for him once he shared bread with a few folks. Moreover, the league’s Commissioner Cathy Engelbert wants to see 16 teams in the WNBA by 2028.

Ambitious? You better believe it!

Next year, the Golden State Valkyrie will be the 13th to grace the rising league. A year later, Portland and Toronto are slated to have their teams too. Aside from that, several NBA cities are rampantly submitting bids to be next in line. With just one spot on the line, Carter-Willims is willing to do anything to bring Boston home.

Even if that includes absorbing a current franchise. Notably, the Connecticut Suns have seen a huge reshuffle. They have lost their star players and within the team, many have criticized their efforts to provide state-of-the-art facilities. With his desperation to have a franchise in Boston, Michael Carter-Williams doesn’t mind providing the players with all the resources by navigating them to one of the most passionate basketball cities.

“I think we’re open to all possibilities. That would be great if that could happen. The main goal is to just get a team to Boston. And I think there’s many different avenues [through which] that could happen. That’s the goal — no matter what road we need to travel to get there, that’s what we want to do,” the 2014-year ROTY told Noa Dalzell of SB Nation.

While it is a grand plan to avoid competing for expansion, the Mohegan Tribe is presently not interested in selling the team. However, maybe a tempting offer could change that. All that’s known is that Carter-Williams wants to bring a team to Boston and expand its basketball heritage. If that requires a lucrative offer to cement the chances of it happening, maybe he will take it.

Jayson Tatum faces more competition in his vision to own a WNBA franchise

Many suitors are fighting for the last remaining expansion team in the WNBA. Carter-Williams wants to harbor a sense of rivalries to the league by bringing a Boston franchise. A WNBA legend, Candace Parker, wants to bring a franchise to Nashville. Moreover, other cities, such as Dallas, Milwaukee, and Houston, are also part of the horse race.

None of this bodes well for Jayson Tatum. The Celtics ace is reportedly part of a $200 million investment group looking to bring a WNBA franchise to his hometown of St. Louis. With such great competition, and already having an NBA presence, it will be extremely tough for Tatum’s vision to come to life anytime soon.

Honestly, even with so many interested, only one city will have a WNBA franchise. However, that might change. Michael Carter-Williams is confident about it. He feels the staggering interest in WNBA ownership could inspire Engelbert to change her mind and ramp up the number of teams within the expansion map for the league. He spoke to SB Nation about the same.

“I think people are picking up on trying to get expansion teams, kind of putting pressure on the WNBA, and I think they’re starting to have some good problems. So, I think they’ll make some adjustments, and I think we’ll see expansion teams coming at a faster pace than we’ve been seeing them,” the former Magic player projects.

If that is the case, it gives Jayson Tatum and his group some hope in introducing a St. Louis WNBA franchise. However, the hope won’t be great as the WNBA can’t just accept every expansion offer it gets in such a short time frame. Hence, there’s a high chance that teams with NBA representation get the preference because of the facilities and resources they could provide to the league and its players.

Only due time will tell who comes out on top.