Former Houston Comets and Texas Longhorn standout seeks to bring the capital city its first women’s professional sports team in 2027
(AUSTIN, TEXAS – Nov. 12, 2024; source: Juice Consulting) – And then there was one…
Only one spot left. And where-oh-where will the 16th WNBA expansion team land? Fran Harris hopes it’ll be the same city where she led the Texas Longhorns to national prominence, and a 34-0 NCAA national championship in 1986 – Austin, Texas.
With details of the WNBA expansion process under lock and key, Harris has spent the past year raising capital, working on Austin’s submission packet, galvanizing the city, and positioning Austin as a strong contender in a race that includes at least 12 other cities, several of them NBA hubs.
“Everybody projects a photo finish – but I think Austin checks every single box – location, corporate partners, beautiful arena, and best of all, a community that has demonstrated support for women’s basketball,” said Harris.
Harris played on the W’s first championship team with the four-time champion Houston Comets in 1997. She’s witnessed the WNBA’s meteoric rise over 28 seasons up-close as a player first, and then, broadcaster. In 2024, while broadcasting games for the Dallas Wings, Fran watched courtside as the WNBA delivered its most-watched regular season in 24 years, finishing with its highest attendance in 22 years and setting records for digital consumption and merchandise sales. The WNBA also attracted an all-time record of more than 54 million unique viewers across ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ION and NBA TV.
“This season was magical for many reasons,” said Harris. “I feel blessed to be here, to bear witness, and to fully celebrate the growth of our game. It’s a super special time in our sport’s evolution.”
Harris has built a formidable brand as a businesswoman and sports thought leader, speaking on stages alongside business and sports titans on some of the country’s largest stages. In 2020, she co-founded The Athletic Club, a Dallas-Fort Worth-based indoor and outdoor sports complex in The Colony. In 2021, she beat out over 10,000 applicants to land a spot on the hit business reality show, SHARK TANK, pitching ELECTRA, a women’s-focused electrolyte drink company.
“My days at Procter & Gamble prepared me for launching a product in a highly competitive industry like sports drinks,” said Harris. “Few things are more competitive than expansion sports.”
Competition in the women’s college and pro game has ushered in millions of new fans and scores of corporate partners that have driven expansion interest, a fact that has its pluses and minuses.
“When I started serious expansion conversations with the WNBA in 2023, there were about five other cities at the table,” said Harris. “Now there’s more than a dozen – and while I welcome the competition, I don’t love the impact the interest has on expansion fees.”
Portland, which was named the 15th expansion team this past Spring, reportedly paid an expansion fee of $125 million dollars. Investors for Team #16 could be looking at a $150 million dollar price tag, or even $200 million dollars. If Austin isn’t awarded the 16th slot, the entry fee for future expansion teams will likely eclipse $300 million, minimum. Harris laughs and remembers when WNBA franchises sold for $4-$6 million dollars.
“Why didn’t I get in then?” Harris asked. “I don’t want to think about what I ‘didn’t’ do 20 years ago. The W has arrived – and today it’s worth every penny. The product on the floor is amazing and Austin’s about to go crazy.”
“We appreciate the support we get from the Austin community and their love of women’s basketball,” said Rori Harmon, UT Women’s Basketball player. “We applaud the efforts of one of our own Fran Harris in bringing a WNBA team to Austin. This is a special time for women’s basketball and I’m grateful to be a part of it here at The University of Texas.”
Harris cautions against revealing investor names, citing that the WNBA/NBA has a rigorous diligence process. “Until an investor has officially cleared diligence, we’ll keep those names in the family,” said Harris. No definitive date has been issued on when the WNBA will announce the 16th team.
ABOUT FRAN HARRIS:
Fran is the Founder and CEO of Electra, a natural electrolyte powder drink company that she launched in 2021 on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning business reality show, SHARK TANK. She’s also the Owner/Operator of The Athletic Club, a DFW-based portfolio of indoor and outdoor multi-sport complex in Dallas Fort-Worth metroplex. She led the 1986 NCAA Champion University of Texas Longhorns to its first, and to date, only national title. She also played on the Houston Comets’ first WNBA Championship team in 1997, also the WNBA’s inaugural season. She’s a former ESPN announcer, and the author of 20 books including Houston By Morning, a novel set in the world of the WNBA. Fran’s a riveting business and sports thought leader, who’s appeared on stages and in media across the country. Recently, Fran appeared alongside sports business titans at Sportico’s “Invest in Sports” summit held in New York at NASDAQ on Nov. 4, 2024. She is the visionary behind #WinATX, and is currently engaging partners, investors and fans in Austin’s movement to be the next epicenter of women’s basketball. Interested parties can learn more here. For more information on Fran Harris, see here. For media inquiries, please contact here.
