Peyton Manning and Star-Studded Group Place Appealing Bid for...

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Peyton Manning and Star-Studded Group Place Appealing Bid for Nashville WNBA Franchise

Peyton Manning, is among a group of high-profile investors aiming to bring a WNBA expansion franchise to Nashville, Tennessee.

Partnering with basketball legend Candace Parker, entertainers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam, the group submitted their formal bid to the league.

This initiative reflects Nashville’s growing status as a sports hub and highlights the rise of women’s basketball in the region.

Source: RudyBalasko / Getty

The proposed team would be named the Tennessee Summitt, a heartfelt tribute to the late Pat Summitt, the iconic University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach known for her record 1,098 career wins and eight NCAA championships.

Summitt’s impact on the sport and her advocacy for women’s athletics make her an ideal namesake for the franchise.

According to Haslam, the team would not only honor Summitt’s legacy but serve as a beacon for empowering women and girls in sports across Tennessee.

The franchise’s home games are slated to take place at Bridgestone Arena, shared with the NHL’s Nashville Predators.

A state-of-the-art practice facility is also planned, doubling as a community resource for youth basketball programs.

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Candace Parker, who played under Summitt at Tennessee and won two NCAA titles, expressed her deep connection to the project.

Calling it a “pinch-me moment,” Parker emphasized how much Summitt shaped her life and career, noting the pride she feels in working to expand women’s professional basketball where her basketball roots began.

Source: NCAA Photos / Getty – Photo of Candace Parker & Pat Summitt

This bid comes as the WNBA experiences a wave of growth.

The league, founded in 1996, currently comprises 12 teams, with three expansion franchises—Golden State, Portland, and Toronto—set to join by 2026.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently revealed plans to identify a 16th team, targeted to debut by the 2028 season.

Competing cities for this spot include Cleveland, Kansas City, and Philadelphia, but Nashville’s proposal stands out due to its cultural ties to women’s basketball and Summitt’s legacy.

Peyton Manning and Star-Studded Group Place Appealing Bid for Nashville WNBA Franchise was originally published on 1075thefan.com