BOSTON, Mass. — New Celtics proprietor Invoice Chisholm is hoping to convey a WNBA workforce to Boston, he informed reporters at his introductory press convention on Thursday afternoon.
“To start with, I feel Boston ought to have a workforce,” Chisholm stated. “Like I stated earlier, that is the perfect sports activities metropolis within the nation, and that is the birthplace of basketball, so we ought to have a workforce.“
Chisholm formally turned the Celtics’ majority proprietor final month, together with Aditya Mittal, who sat apart from him on the press convention. For weeks now, it’s been speculated that Chisholm is inquisitive about bringing a WNBA workforce to Boston.
In early August, the Boston Globe reported that Celtics minority proprietor Steve Pagliuca agreed to buy the Connecticut Solar from the Mohegan Solar tribe, however the WNBA put out a press release to the Globe shortly after:
“Relocation selections are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and never by particular person groups. As a part of our most up-to-date growth course of, by which three new franchises had been awarded to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia on June 30, 2025, 9 extra cities additionally utilized for WNBA groups and stay beneath lively consideration. No teams from Boston utilized for a workforce at the moment and people different cities stay into account based mostly on the intensive work they did as a part of the growth course of and at present have precedence over Boston. Celtics’ potential proprietor Invoice Chisholm has additionally reached out to the league workplace and requested that Boston obtain sturdy consideration for a WNBA franchise on the applicable time.”
When Boston will get a WNBA workforce stays to be seen
The Solar’s sale has gotten murkier because the Globe’s preliminary report.
A bid led by former Milwaukee Bucks proprietor Marc Lasry to maneuver the workforce to Hartford, Connecticut, has surfaced as properly. In the meantime, the WNBA has reportedly provided the Solar the chance to buy the workforce and relocate it to Houston. On the identical time, Connecticut lawmakers have been vocal about maintaining the workforce in-state, and maintaining the league out of negotiations.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal despatched a letter to the WNBA on Monday, warning the league to remain out of negotiations between the Mohegan tribe and potential new possession teams. Per ESPN, he famous that “any makes an attempt by the WNBA to dam efforts to maintain the Solar in Connecticut might violate federal antitrust legal guidelines.”
If the Solar sale doesn’t end in a WNBA franchise in Boston, the next-best automobile could be by way of growth.
The WNBA at present has 13 groups (the Golden State Valkyries joined this season). Subsequent season, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Hearth are becoming a member of the league, whereas Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) are getting their very own WNBA franchises by the tip of this decade as properly.
On August nineteenth, ESPN reported that the league would contemplate a possible Boston workforce in a later spherical of growth, and that Chisholm could be the league’s most popular proprietor for a WNBA franchise.
However that may probably be just a few years down the highway.
Addressing reporters on Thursday, Chisholm acknowledged that he’s solely been on this seat for a couple of month, however that he’s inquisitive about bringing a workforce to Boston. The timeline for that kind of transfer stays to be seen.
“It’s undoubtedly one thing we’re going to take a look at,” he stated. “And I do know the NBA has a course of — so we’ll do what we are able to to expedite issues. However there’s a course of there. However philosophically, it makes a lot sense.”
