Ownership group emerges looking to bring WNBA to Boston

Boston is “taking a significant step closer to a WNBA team,” as an ownership group led by actor/singer Donnie Wahlberg and former NBAer Michael Carter-Williams is “planning to prepare an offer for an expansion team,” according to Gary Washburn of the BOSTON GLOBE. The Wahlberg/Carter-Williams group, named Boston Women’s Basketball Partners, would “have to officially apply for a team and then be approved by the league’s owners, as well as pay an expansion fee.” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey also “have offered support.” TD Garden hosted a WNBA game last August featuring the Sun and Sparks, and it drew a capacity crowd. The enthusiasm for the game “appeared to spark interest” in bringing the WNBA to Boston “permanently.” The group’s planned bid comes as the WNBA is in an “expansion flurry,” with the Golden State Valkyries, Toronto Tempo and a team in Portland beginning play in the next two years. Cleveland reportedly will the be league’s 16th team in 2028. It is “uncertain how much the WNBA wants to expand beyond 16 teams, but there is a list of other interested cities,” such as Detroit, Philadelphia, Nashville and Charlotte (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/18).