More on the W in Chicago.
Owner Michael Alter explained why he's doing this: "I was at the NBA All-Star Game last year and met some of the WNBA players -- Sue Bird and Rebecca Lobo -- and I was just so impressed with them and their love of the game. This city is the third-largest market in the country and the best sports town. It deserves a team."
"As the W.N.B.A. enters its ninth year, the prospects for the future have never been brighter, which is why we are attracting independent entrepreneurs like Michael Alter to invest in the league's expansion," David Stern said. "We are dealing with a sophisticated investor who has done a lot of work, meeting with all our existing franchises, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, start-up costs and competing costs."
The team will be run by Margaret Stender. Stender played hoops at Richmond, and she went on to a career in business with Pepsi, Quaker Oats, and Rand McNally.
"In the last three months that I've been involved with this, I've been amazed at the demand," Stender said. "Almost everyone I talk to is like, 'Oh this is so great. Why has it taken so long? We're so happy it's finally come here.' So I think we're ready here. Chicago is ready for a team. If it works in those other 13 cities, surely it will work in Chicago. This is the best sports town in America. It's got to work here."
Owner Michael Alter explained why he's doing this: "I was at the NBA All-Star Game last year and met some of the WNBA players -- Sue Bird and Rebecca Lobo -- and I was just so impressed with them and their love of the game. This city is the third-largest market in the country and the best sports town. It deserves a team."
"As the W.N.B.A. enters its ninth year, the prospects for the future have never been brighter, which is why we are attracting independent entrepreneurs like Michael Alter to invest in the league's expansion," David Stern said. "We are dealing with a sophisticated investor who has done a lot of work, meeting with all our existing franchises, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, start-up costs and competing costs."
The team will be run by Margaret Stender. Stender played hoops at Richmond, and she went on to a career in business with Pepsi, Quaker Oats, and Rand McNally.
"In the last three months that I've been involved with this, I've been amazed at the demand," Stender said. "Almost everyone I talk to is like, 'Oh this is so great. Why has it taken so long? We're so happy it's finally come here.' So I think we're ready here. Chicago is ready for a team. If it works in those other 13 cities, surely it will work in Chicago. This is the best sports town in America. It's got to work here."
