Austin submits bid for WNBA expansion team. Here's who is in the group
A group that includes former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry, Fran Harris, Jenny Just and NBA star Kevin Durant officially has submitted a bid to own a WNBA expansion team in Austin, Texas, USA TODAY Sports has learned from two people with direct knowledge of the bid.
They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the group’s bid.
Lasry is the leading financial backer and brings pro sports ownership experience to the group. Harris, who also played college basketball at Texas and played two WNBA seasons, is an entrepreneur and previously has expressed interest about bringing a WNBA team to Austin. Just is the co-founder and managing partner at fintech firm PEAK6, which is headquartered in Austin. Durant is an All-Star for the Phoenix Suns and played one season of college basketball at Texas.
The WNBA has received more than 10 bids for an expansion team, which would raise the number of teams to 16. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said she would like to add the 16th team by the 2028 season.
Bids were due Jan. 30, and Detroit, Nashville, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Houston are among the cities bidding for the expansion team. The bids from Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Houston were submitted from the NBA ownership groups in those cities.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2025/02/10/wnba-expansion-austin-submits-bid-new-team/78386636007/