Could a Hall of Fame game happen in Knoxville?

Photo Credit: WBIR-TV

With a third-year WNBA president in place in Lisa Borders whose primary aim is to find new and innovative methods to expand the game, all options appear to be on the table.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville recently inducted seven new members – including Tina Thompson, Katie Smith, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Mickie DeMoss. The festivities were certainly memorable, but could a corresponding WNBA game bring only more flair to the pageantry?

It was Doug Feinberg at the Associated Press who first wrote about the idea and talked to a few individuals about the possibility.

It is an interesting concept and something worthy of discussion as we are continually looking for new and innovative ways to grow our fan base and build our brand.

–WNBA president Lisa Borders to the Associated Press

The weekend on which the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame fetes its newest inductees is always special and the Knoxville market has, over the years, been a strong one in terms of television viewership for the WNBA.

–WNBA president Lisa Borders to the Associated Press

It fits our mission statement to celebrate the past with the present and exposing youngsters in our community to professional basketball that they don’t get to see on a regular basis in Tennessee.

–Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame president Dana Hart

If it were to happen, it would certainly add another dimension to it to have players who hooped at Tennessee as part of the game. Candace Parker is one of those, so the Los Angeles Sparks would be a potential candidate to play a Hall of Fame game. The Indiana Fever are another given that is where Tamika Catchings played after she donned Lady Vol orange playing for the late, great Pat Summitt.



By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)