Philadelphia has been buzzing since news broke that a WNBA franchise would be arriving in 2030. There has been speculation around team names and dreaming of the franchise lifting the commissioner’s cup like Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever did this past Tuesday.
Many have also wondered if Philadelphia’s own Dawn Staley would involve herself in the future franchise.
As it so happens, the stars may be aligning for Staley to join Philly’s first WNBA franchise by its inaugural season.
Goodbye, Carolina
Make no mistake, Staley is not leaving Gamecocks any time soon. The three-time NCAA tournament champion recently signed a historic extension with South Carolina that will make her the highest-paid college women’s basketball coach in NCAA history, and will also keep her with the university through the 2029-2030 NCAA season. That timeline is very important because, as mentioned, Philadelphia’s WNBA team will officially arrive in 2030.
With the Women’s NCAA season ending in early April, at least if your team performs according to plan, and the WNBA season beginning just over a month later, the timing could not be better designed, leading some to wonder if it was designed.
The deal was signed within one week of the news of the new stadium project in the South Philly Sports Complex. The details included the ownership group’s desire to secure a WNBA franchise by the projected completion date, scheduled for 2031, with a potential early completion date in 2030.
Many think of the legendary coach joining the WNBA as a coach, considering her Hall of Fame-worthy resume, but is that her most likely path?
Would Staley coach Philly’s first WNBA team?
Simply put, Staley has no interest in coaching Philadelphia’s future WNBA franchise or any other team in the league. How can one say that so definitively? Staley herself has commented on the idea time and time again, consistently answering a resounding, “No.” She even included the idea in her book, ‘Uncommon Favor.’
“Over the years, several WNBA teams have gauged my interest in coming on board. I don’t want to coach in the WNBA, never have,” Staley wrote. “If I jump over, I want ownership.”
While this quote does not specifically address the possibility of a team in her native Philadelphia, Staley has also directly answered that idea.
On Kylie Kelce’s podcast, ‘Not Gonna Lie,’ Staley doubled down on her lack of desire to coach in the WNBA, even after being asked specifically about a potential Philadelphia franchise.
The path to ownership
Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment (HSBE) currently holds the majority rights to Philadelphia’s future NBA franchise and has no interest in selling that majority stake, at least at this time. However, becoming a minority stake holder is a different process. For instance, Comcast became a minority stakeholder of the Philadelphia 76ers, also owned by HSBE, earlier this year as a part of the new stadium agreement. Previously, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin sold his 10% ownership stake of the Sixers, leading to Campus Apartments CEO David Adelman purchasing a substantial share of Rubin’s previous stake.
From a financial standpoint, there should be little stopping Staley from joining the organization as at least a minority stakeholder. Not only is she the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball history, but she would have no shortage of backers looking to support her and join her ownership stake. Kylie Kelce immediately spoke up on the podcast, expressing her apparent interest in supporting Staley in this pursuit. Undoubtedly, she would not be the only potential backer.
When could Staley join Philly’s WNBA franchise?
Since the capacity is likely as a partial owner and not as coach, the process could theoretically begin before her contract with South Carolina is up. Frankly, as soon as Staley’s desire coincides with a bid deemed acceptable, we could see the Philly legend join the future of women’s sports in Philadelphia.
Until that day, Staley’s potential involvement with the incoming franchise will remain among the hottest of topics around the team.
