Donnie Wahlberg, Michael Carter-Williams Lead Investment Group for Boston WNBA Team
Two Boston sports figures have teamed up to pursue a WNBA dream. Donnie Wahlberg and Michael Carter-Williams want to bring the league to their hometown.
“As a longtime Boston Celtics fan who attended countless NBA games in my lifetime, nothing would bring me more joy than to have a WNBA franchise in the city of Boston,” said Wahlberg to Hoopshype.
“As the city of champions, Boston is the hub for sports fans, and we would be delighted to host a trailblazing WNBA team,” said Mayor Michelle Wu.
The move aligns with the WNBA’s biggest expansion since 1997. Four new teams will join by 2028 – San Francisco, Portland, Toronto, and Cleveland – bringing the total to 16.
Entry won’t be cheap. The price tag has jumped quickly – Cleveland shelled out $250 million, double what Portland’s owners paid just last year. Boston’s group needs to convince league owners and match these hefty fees.
San Francisco’s Golden State Valkyries kick off this year at Chase Center. Toronto starts in 2026 at Coca-Cola Coliseum, while Portland comes in under the Bhatal family’s ownership – who also run the NWSL Thorns.
The WNBA reached its peak of 16 teams in 2000 before shrinking to 12 after 2009. The Valkyries start the new chapter on May 16 against LA.
The playoffs are getting an update too. Finals now go to best-of-seven series, though media contracts still need updating.
