The WNBA is set to expand to 18 teams by 2030, but Houston, once home to a championship dynasty, is not one of the destinations.
Basketball legends Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and Diana Taurasi told USA Today on August 20 why the league should return to Houston. “I believe Houston is ready to have a WNBA franchise back in the city,” Cooper-Dyke said.
“The City of Houston misses the Comets and misses having a WNBA franchise to support, and I think this is a great time for it.” Taurasi, who retired on February 25, explained the Comets’ significance to the league’s foundation.
“Well, I mean, Houston was the benchmark. When you talk about dynasties, you talk about the Bulls, the Lakers, and Celtics,” Taurasi said. “Well, in the WNBA, it’s the Houston Comets, Cheryl, Coop, and Tina, those three really paved the way for our league.”
Return to Houston?
The Houston Comets were one of the eight original WNBA teams during the inaugural season in 1997. Houston is the only franchise to win three or more consecutive titles.
Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson led the franchise to four straight championships from 1997 to 2000. The Big Three accumulated a 98-24 (.903) regular season record and were 16-2 in the playoffs.
Taurasi continued to express to USA Today the importance of the WNBA returning to Houston. “Houston should have a team,” Taurasi said. “Those banners should be up somewhere.”
“They paved the way for all these legacies and dynasties in the WNBA. So Houston’s got to be back on the map.”
WNBA in the Community
Despite the dominance of the Comets, Cooper-Dyke emphasized the importance of the community. “I want to build, build, build, build, because I think that’s what we did as the Houston Comets,” Cooper-Dyke said.
“The reason we had such great fan support was because we built a relationship with the community. And so I’m excited for the opportunity and the possibility, and I know that there are tons of fans here that are ready to support.”
While there have been no hints of the WNBA returning to Houston, Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets, has expressed interest in bringing the WNBA back to Houston.
The Athletic’s Ben Pickman and Mike Vorkunov reported on February 11 that Fertitta placed a bid for a franchise.
“Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Houston Rockets, submitted a bid for a WNBA franchise, a spokesperson for the Rockets confirmed to The Athletic. The franchise would play at Toyota Center,” wrote Pickman and Vornukov.
“The Houston Comets won the first four WNBA titles but disbanded after the 2008 season.”
WNBA Expansion
Last year, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated that the league’s goal was to expand to 16 teams by 2028. Needless to say, the W has surpassed the goal with the expansion to 18 teams by 2030.
Engelbert announced during a WNBA live press conference on June 30 that the league will be expanding to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia by 2030.
Each city paid a $250 million expansion fee, according to ESPN. This season, the Golden State Valkyries began play as the 13th expansion team.
Next season, the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire will begin play as the 14th and 15th expansion teams.
Will the WNBA consider returning to Houston?
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