While not the most ballyhooed topic of conversation in WNBA circles, the concept of the league adding more teams is one that comes up from time to time. The 12-team league does have aficionados contemplating on which markets will be home bases to teams 13, 14, and so on.
One of the biggest media markets sans a team is Philadelphia. Nestled between two other cities with WNBA franchises—New York and Washington, D.C., the City of Brotherly Love—similarly to the San Francisco Bay Area is a market that can make a strong case to host a team.
Philadelphia is known far and wide as being a city (as well as a region) with some of the most passionate sports fans in the country. There is little question that Philly fans are diehards and that the same passion would be brought to a WNBA team.
Philly fans have also been known in many quarters for sometimes being a bit too passionate, but this is the case in every city.
Of course, any argument as to whether Philadelphia can and will support a team may come down to financial support—which, theoretically, there should be more than enough of in the city for a team. It may also come down to whether there is interest among the ownership of the local NBA franchise—the 76ers to put money into a team.
As this article written by Lucas Johnson of The Sixer Sense puts it, the fact that the Sixers are in a rebuilding mode right now would allow the two franchises to grow together. Could a women’s team be part of “The Process”?
Historically, Philadelphia was once home to a professional women’s basketball team—the Philadelphia Fox of the Women’s Professional Basketball League, but the Fox only lasted ten games prior to the league closing up shop in the early 1980s.
Major colleges in and around the Philadelphia area have also sent players to the WNBA. The most notable one is Elena Delle Donne, who played at the University of Delaware, but Candice Dupree and Victoria Macaulay played their collegiate ball at Temple University.
Cappie Pondexter, Kahleah Copper, and Betnijah Laney among others went to Rutgers before forging careers in The W.
Syreeta Collier with the Philadelphia-based Black Women in Sport Foundation and an assistant basketball coach at the Community College of Philadelphia in comments made to Beyond The W, believes that for Philadelphia to have a team would be a great thing given how much of a sporting town it is. She also sees the possible marketing benefits as well.
I think it would definitely do great for the city to bring revenue into the city as well as from a WNBA standpoint because of how loyal the fans are.
Lynsey Grace, the Athletic Coordinator at the Community College of Philadelphia and a member of the Philadelphia-based Black Women In Sport Foundation’s advisory board echoed Collier’s sentiments.
Look at the Eagles, look at the 76ers, look at the Flyers. They could have the worst seasons in the world. But, guess what, people are still going to show up and support. Now, they may boo you, but they’re still going to be in the stands supporting. Because, again, Philadelphia fans are loyal fans—and that’s a fact.
She also believes the area’s vibrant collegiate sports scene can also be a key catalyst in securing a team.
You have Temple University, you have Rutgers University, you have a lot of top people and talent and quality, so why not Philadelphia.
As with every WNBA expansion conversation, one question is where to put a team? Would it be in an urban center as is the case with the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, or in the suburbs as stands the case with the Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings.
A “Philadelphia” team does not necessarily have to be based within the city limits given cities such as Wilmington, Trenton, and Atlantic City are all close by.
In addition, Delle Donne recently went to the Washington Mystics to the Chicago Sky in order to be closer to home. Even though she did not play for one of the teams within its city limits, it may have felt like a Philadelphia story given its proximity to The First State.
This was even referenced in a recent Philadelphia Magazine article. The premise was that Delle Donne alone should be the reason Philadelphia should push for a team so they do not let her get away the same way Kobe Bryant did when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers.
In addition, Dawn Staley who was the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Temple was recently named as the head coach for the United States’ women’s national team.
Marqueeta Dickens, currently the head women’s basketball coach at CCP believes that with all of the collegiate talent that comes from the area that a team would fit in perfectly with the Philadelphia sports culture.
With all of the top Division I programs and top talent. And, not even Division I, even Division II.
she said to Beyond The W.
Two years ago, a Pennsylvania-based team won the Division II women’s national championship.
Other things to consider include what would a team name be and where would they play. The Sixer Sense column suggested either the 63’ers as an ode to the inaugural year of the Sixers, or the 19ers as a reference to Congress passing the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.
As far as the stadium itself goes, there is either the Wells Fargo Center in south Philly, where the 76ers play, or a team could play in a collegiate venue as the Wings do on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington.
Grace tells Beyond the W that starting out at Temple University’s Liacouras Center would be a good option.
Liacouras has the food, drinks, everything. You could do everything there. They have parking. So, everything will be right there and it’s right on Broad Street.
Collier and Dickens agreed with Grace about the team playing on Temple’s campus. Dickens felt that playing at a smaller venue such as the Liacouras Center would actually add to the fan experience.
There’s nothing like the intimate setting…Especially from a fan’s standpoint. So, having it done in a smaller venue, I think it makes it a lot better.
And not only would a team potentially add to the fan experience, but it would also have a chance to be a community leader as well—especially for young girls looking to pursue athletics.
There’s a lot of young women looking for opportunities in that area…[A team] can not only just be good for the WNBA, but the community as a whole.
As mentioned earlier, if a WNBA fan in Philly wanted to go and see a game, it would mean driving down Interstate 95 through Delaware and Maryland into Washington, D.C. (along with paying tolls). Or—it would mean driving up the New Jersey Turnpike into New York City (along with paying tolls).
In terms of community finances, a team would mean that money, instead of going to other places such as New York, Washington, D.C., or Connecticut, would be funds that would remain in the area.
After Philadelphia were to be granted a team, the next steps would be, of course, to ensure that it is something that can work long term in the area. Grace feels becoming part of the local community is key to success.
You need to get out in the schools. Everybody knows about the Philadelphia School District. The school systems. It’s failing. They’re doing a better job trying to rebuild. But, having that professional team—that women’s professional team going in the community, going to the colleges, going to K-through-12—you need to have people know who you are.
As community-based as Philadelphia is, such a push for the WNBA to expand to the area could even include getting the university community, including Temple, to rally behind said push. Dickens also suggested getting local officials involved.
There are a lot of universities around us that have students who are willing and able and very innovative to be a part of this push as well.
Even in terms of reaching out to, like, the Mayor’s office. They have a ton of different initiatives the WNBA can be a part of.
–Marqueeta Dickens
She also suggested that a team can do much work in terms of community outreach to Philadelphia’s LGBT community—which she says is something that Philadelphia’s mayor—Jim Kenney—is big on.
The area as a whole could also be potentially big on financial support. It may even be possible that some of that support could come via the Sixers. But wherever the fan and financial support comes from, the task for those interested in bringing the league to the city is putting in the work to make it happen.
I think it would do great, not only for Philadelphia with basketball, but for women’s sports in general.
–Syreeta Collier
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
