Could WNBA team end up in Jacksonville? SBJ report says there’s an interest

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Could Jacksonville be the spot for a new WNBA franchise?

According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, an investment group led by Jacksonville resident and former WNBA commissioner Donna Orender is looking at the prospect of a franchise for the city. Orender was the WNBA’s second president from 2005-10. According to the SBJ, Orender said that she has an investment group that has an interest in putting a team here and having it play at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

“I’ve traveled all around the country trying to sell teams, move teams, etc. — I think Jacksonville, Florida, measures up as well, if not better than most,” Orender told the SBJ.

The WNBA is expanding from 12 to 14 teams over the next two years. Next season, the Golden State Valkyries will begin play. In 2026, Toronto is getting its own team. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league is “pretty confident” that it will reach 16 teams by 2028.

According to the Washington Post, the WNBA, despite record viewership, remains unable to turn a profit. The Post reported that the WNBA and its teams are expected to lose around $50 million in 2024. The league would struggle to exist without the support from the NBA. A new media rights deal should help infuse the league with more capital.