Group forms committee to pursue WNBA franchise for Vancouver

A group is forming a bid committee to pursue a Women’s National Basketball Association franchise for Vancouver, amid a broader global boom in women’s professional sports.

Committee member Jodi Evans told CTV News on Monday that the group believes the timing is right. Evans, a former Olympic basketball player, said there is public interest and demand from young girls who want to see women playing professional sports.

Bill Bakk leads the committee, joined by Evans and Kevin Hanson, who coached the University of British Columbia men’s basketball team for 25 years. Hanson said feedback has been positive and that he believes Vancouver is ready for women’s basketball.

He acknowledged that the effort faces significant hurdles, especially financing. Hanson said the franchise fee for the newest WNBA teams has been about US$250 million in recent years, and estimated a Vancouver bid could fall in the range of C$500 million in two to three years as expansion competition grows.

Vancouver fans have supported women’s professional sports. The Vancouver Goldeneyes hockey team averaged more than 11,000 spectators per game in its first season at Pacific Coliseum, while Vancouver Rise FC has regularly drawn 3,000 spectators per match at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium.

Chelsea Leite, TSN’s Toronto Tempo beat reporter, said women’s sports is in a major growth period and is increasingly seen as an attractive investment because of both fan excitement and potential returns. The group says the process could take years, but it believes it can make the case to investors for a WNBA team in Vancouver.