BILL HASLAM’S BOLD LEGACY PLAY: Former Tennessee Governor Launches State’s First-Ever WNBA Franchise “Tennessee Summitt” in Honor of Coaching Icon Pat Summitt—A Groundbreaking Move Set to Revolutionize Women’s Basketball in the South and Spark a New Golden Era for Professional Sports in the Volunteer State
Knoxville, TN — In a stunning and historic development for women’s basketball and Tennessee sports, former Governor Bill Haslam has officially unveiled the state’s first WNBA franchise—the Tennessee Summitt—a powerhouse initiative named in honor of the legendary Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt. The announcement was made at a packed press event in downtown Knoxville, surrounded by basketball greats, WNBA executives, state leaders, and an energized community ready to witness history in the making.
The new franchise is slated to begin play in the 2026 WNBA season and will be headquartered in Knoxville, with plans for the team to play its home games at a newly renovated Thompson-Boling Arena. Haslam, a longtime supporter of women’s sports and former part-owner of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, is leading a powerful ownership group that includes prominent business leaders, sports legends, and local philanthropists. Together, they have launched the Summitt franchise not only to compete—but to become a dominant force in professional basketball.
“This is more than a sports team,” Haslam said during his keynote speech at the announcement event. “This is a movement. The Tennessee Summitt is a tribute to Pat, to every woman who’s ever dreamed of playing at the highest level, and to a state that has always believed in the power of sports to unite and inspire.”
The team’s name, Tennessee Summitt, is a direct nod to the late Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in NCAA Division I basketball history and an enduring symbol of leadership, excellence, and resilience. Her son, Tyler Summitt, and several of her former players, including Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker, were in attendance and visibly emotional as the announcement was made.
“This is the most beautiful tribute to Mom’s legacy I could ever imagine,” Tyler Summitt said. “She built something extraordinary here, and now that legacy will live on, not just in memory, but in action—in the hearts of every girl who will grow up watching the Summitt take the court.”
The WNBA officially confirmed that the league’s Board of Governors had approved the expansion and praised Haslam and his group for their commitment to growing the sport.
“Tennessee has long been a hotbed for women’s basketball,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated. “With the Summitt, we are not only honoring one of the greatest coaches of all time, but we’re also bringing a passionate fanbase into the professional fold. The potential here is enormous.”
The Summitt’s entry into the WNBA will significantly alter the league’s landscape. With Tennessee’s deep-rooted basketball culture, especially in women’s athletics, expectations are sky-high. Analysts believe the team will immediately become one of the league’s top draws, both in ticket sales and television viewership, especially given the emotional connection to Pat Summitt and the hunger for professional women’s sports in the region.
Tennessee’s recruiting advantage also promises to be unmatched. College standouts who grew up idolizing Summitt and the Lady Vols are already expressing interest in one day wearing the orange and blue of the Summitt franchise.
“You know I’ll be watching them closely,” said current NCAA superstar and Tennessee native, Jacy Abii. “Pat Summitt’s legacy made me believe I could play this game. This team is going to mean so much to so many girls like me.”
Beyond basketball, the launch of the franchise represents a significant investment in women’s sports and the Tennessee economy. Haslam’s group has pledged over $100 million in initial investments for arena upgrades, community outreach programs, women-led business partnerships, and youth development initiatives across the state.
“We’re building a team, yes,” Haslam said. “But we’re also building a future where girls in Tennessee know they can dream just as big as the boys—and those dreams are going to happen right here at home.”
Early branding materials reveal the team colors will be a fusion of Lady Vol orange, navy blue, and silver, with a stylized mountain summit and basketball logo paying homage to Tennessee’s iconic landscape and Summitt’s last name. Merchandise is expected to go on sale later this summer, and season ticket reservations are already open—with over 20,000 fans signing up within the first 48 hours.
The Tennessee Summitt will join the league alongside another yet-to-be-named expansion team in Oakland, with both expected to spark renewed national interest in the WNBA as it continues its meteoric rise.
As fans across the country react to the news, one thing is clear: a new chapter in women’s basketball has begun—and it’s being written in Knoxville, Tennessee.
And at the heart of it all is a name that has always stood for greatness: Summitt.
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