Charlotte Moves Closer to Bringing Back the WNBA Sting
Charlotte Moves Closer to Bringing Back the Sting & WNBA Basketball
Source: Craig Jones / Getty
According to Axios Charlotte, a bid has been submitted to bring a WNBA team back to Charlotte, led by businesswoman Erica Berman with the support of her family.
The team would be called the Charlotte Sting and could start playing at Spectrum Center as early as 2028.
“We have been in the process and engaged with the league since 2022,” Nadia Eke, a consultant and spokesperson for the Charlotte bid tells Axios. “We had previously submitted for the 15th franchise.”
Charlotte Hornets owners Gabe Plotkin, Rick Schnall, and Damian Mills are involved in the project, according to Eke. HSE expressed its support for the growth of women’s basketball and the WNBA in an official statement.
“The Charlotte Sting have a storied history and a passionate fanbase within our community,” HSE said in a statement. “We are proud to back the Berman family and be a part of this larger group that is bidding to bring the WNBA back to Charlotte.”
WNBA expansion fees are rising, with Charlotte’s bid amount undisclosed.
If successful, Charlotte could have two professional women’s basketball teams, including the newly formed UpShot League.
Other cities vying for WNBA expansion franchises include Philadelphia, Nashville, and Detroit.
Source: Axios Charlotte
