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Austin is one of more than 10 cities vying for the WNBA’s next expansion franchise, with a group led by former UT star Fran Harris.
AUSTIN, Texas — A group headlined by two former Texas Longhorns has officially submitted its bid to bring the WNBA to Austin.
NBA star Kevin Durant joined the group bidding to bring the expansion franchise to Austin. The group, headlined by former Texas national champion Fran Harris, officially submitted their bid to the league at the end of January.
Harris has been leading the charge to bring a team to Austin since 2023 after discussions with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Harris and Durant are joined by former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, the group’s lead investor, in the city’s effort to become the league’s 16th franchise. Investor Jenny Just, who recently moved her company PEAK6’s global headquarters to Austin, is also part of the group.
According to Harris, when expansion talks began, only three cities were in negotiations with the WNBA. Now, at least 10 cities have officially submitted bids to the league.
With the bidding process over, Harris said it’s a waiting game to see when the WNBA will say yes.
“Could be anywhere from April to the end of May … the latest we would hear back is in the fall,” Harris said. “Our goal is to play in 2027. We want to tip off in the summer of 2027, which means that we’ll need an answer from the WNBA in the next month or so.”
Harris said besides money, the city needed a practice facility, corporate sponsors and passionate fans for the bidding process. With the WNBA holding the Moody Center in high regard, and with the success of Texas Athletics and Austin FC, Harris said Austin checks every box.
“I believe Austin is at the top of that list. We are a city that’s always embraced and celebrated women’s sports, women’s basketball. We are a great sports town,” Harris said.
One Austinite who is a big WNBA fan and would love to see a team here is Beigh Johnson. She’s currently the Health and Wellness Director at the YMCA in Austin, and also a former basketball player who coached college basketball.
“That would be amazing, Austin is an aspiring and eclectic city already,” Johnson said. “Having a WNBA team here would literally boost the morale of the community even more and I believe would bring us closer together.”
