With the Golden State Warriors having opened its new era at its new arena in San Francisco, there were sure to be lots of NBA luminaries in attendance.
One of them was the NBA’s luminary of luminaries in commissioner Adam Silver. While in the Bay Area, he spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on if a WNBA team may not be far behind in following the Dubs to the other side of the Bay.
It’s something we’ve talked to he and Rick Welts about and we’d love to see a WNBA team in this great city.
–Adam Silver, NBA commissioner (to NBC Sports Bay Area)
The Bay Area stands up there with Philadelphia as one of the largest markets sans a team (Boston is somewhat vague with the Connecticut Sun establishing itself as New England’s team). Given Warriors owner Joe Lacob’s history as a former owner in the ABL, the caliber of women’s basketball talent the Bay Area has produced and its extensive LGBTQ community (an important bloc of the W’s fanbase), San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose could make sense for either an expansion franchise or a relocated franchise.
Warriors brass previously said any interest they may have in a WNBA franchise would only take place after completing the top item on its wish list – the move from Oakland to San Francisco. That move is now complete, which could indicate we may hear more of the names of Warriors notables within WNBA circles.
In late 2017, a San Francisco Chronicle report mentioned the Warriors interest in a team after the move to the new stadium.
