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In 1997, Fran Harris stepped onto the court for the Houston Comets, reminiscent of her days playing in front of large crowds at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.
Having led Texas women’s basketball to a perfect season in 1986, Harris always dreamt of owning a team. After staying connected to the league for 28 years, she decided to form an ownership group for an Austin WNBA team five years ago.
Women’s basketball has seen tremendous growth recently, with record-breaking viewership for events like the 2024 NCAA Championship. Harris recognized the increasing popularity of the sport.
She highlighted the strong fan base Texas basketball has in the Moody Center, emphasizing the potential success of a local team attracting fans.
Excited about engaging university students, Harris envisions a thriving WNBA team in Austin and anticipates a vibrant atmosphere in the Moody Center.
With the league expanding, Harris sees the competitive bidding process as a positive sign of growing interest in women’s basketball.
As cities like San Francisco, Toronto, and Portland secure expansion teams, other cities like Cleveland, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Kansas City are vying for the 16th team spot.
While no concrete decision date is set, Harris hopes to receive an answer by early 2025 and potentially launch the team by 2027 or 2028.
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