It's Official: WNBA is Coming to Chicago

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Feb 9, 2005 4:34PM

We mentioned this was a possibility a few weeks ago, but now it's official. The WNBA awarded an expansion team to Chicago, announced in a press conference held yesterday. The ownership group is headed up by real estate developer Michael Alter with minority investor Margaret Stender the team's president and CEO. The team will play their home games at the UIC Pavilion, beginning in May 2006.

While the new team doesn't yet have a name, they do already have a web site. The Sun-Times reports what the new franchises first orders of business are. "Stender said that she and Alter would listen to suggestions for a team name and that one of their first orders of business would be to find a coach."

While nothing has been announced yet, Chicagoist thinks that they need to be holding a public contest to help name the franchise. This would allows the city to begin to gain a sense of ownership of the team and help drum up interest. Chicagoist readers made a number of good suggestions a while back, and we're sure you guys aren't the only ones with good ideas!

Photo via www.chicagownba.com