“Nashville is a cultural Mecca: from music to food to sports, Tennessee’s capital has it all.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) sent a letter to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to express their support for Nashville’s bid to expand the WNBA and host a franchise in Tennessee. The team would be named the “Tennessee Summitt” in honor of the late Lady Vols women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt. 

As a Top Global Travel Destination, Nashville Would Be an Ideal Choice for WNBA Franchise

“We write to you in support of Nashville’s bid to expand the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and host a franchise in our great state. Nashville is a cultural Mecca: from music to food to sports, Tennessee’s capital has it all. People want to visit Nashville—evidenced by the record 16.4 million visitors in 2023… In fact, Nashville has been named a top global travel destination by major travel outlets for more than a decade, in part because of the state of Tennessee’s investment in our unique culture and industries. The investment in our sports teams is evident, and Tennessee’s sports fans are unmatched. Tennessee’s fanbases extend across cities—everyone roots for the Predators, the Titans, Nashville Soccer Club, and the Memphis Grizzlies. In the good times and the bad, that support would be extended to the Tennessee Summitt.”

Nashville’s Infrastructure is Well-Equipped to Host the Tennessee Summitt

“Additionally, Nashville undoubtedly has the infrastructure to host a WNBA franchise. The Tennessee Summitt would play in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, home of the Predators. This facility has won multiple awards for its superior programming, effective marketing, and incredible experience, including the Pollstar Arena of the Year Award, the International Entertainment Buyers Association Venue of the Year Award, the Academy of Country Music Arena of the Year Award, and the Country Music Association Touring Award. Not only will Bridgestone be open to the Tennessee Summitt, but the investors supporting the bid have committed to building a state-of-the art practice facility in Nashville. As long-term advocates for opportunities and equal facilities for female athletes, we are confident that the Tennessee Summitt will be well served in Nashville.”

WNBA Team Would Serve as Beacon of Opportunity for Tennessee Women

“Some of the strongest women in history have called Tennessee home—from suffragist Anne Dallas Dudley to artist and philanthropist Dolly Parton to athletes like Wilma Rudolph and Pat Summitt. A WNBA team in Tennessee—which would become only the second franchise in the Southeast—would serve as a beacon of opportunity for women and girls in the state and across the South. We are grateful for the legacy of Pat Summitt and to individuals like Bill and Chrissy Haslam, Candace Parker, Peyton Manning, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and others who have brought this forward. We urge you to award the bid for the Tennessee Summitt, and we stand ready to provide you with any additional information or support you may need as you consider this proposal.”