Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum could soon become part owner of a WNBA team. Tatum has “informally agreed” to join a bid led by billionaires Richard Chaifetz and David Hoffman to bring a WNBA expansion team to his hometown of St. Louis, according to NBC Boston.
This potential investment is possible after there was a change in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, ratified in April 2023, which allows players to own up to 4 percent of WNBA franchises. If the deal goes through, Tatum would be the first active NBA player to hold such a stake.
Investing In the WNBA
St. Louis is competing with several other U.S. cities including Denver, Miami, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia, for the WNBA’s 16th team. The winning bid could reportedly cost over $200 million.
The proposed St. Louis team would potentially play at the 10,600-seat Chaifetz Arena, already home to St. Louis University’s basketball teams.
Tatum, who signed a historic five-year, $314 million contract extension, making it the largest contract in NBA history, often returns to his hometown for events and charitable efforts. Earlier this year, he partnered with SoFi to donate $1 million toward homeownership initiatives in St. Louis.
The only challenge for the deal is that the WNBA has paused its expansion process due to overwhelming interest, according to Sportico. The WNBA, which was founded in 1996, has 12 teams currently, with plans to expand to 15 teams by 2026. Next year will see the formation of the Golden State Valkyries. And in 2026 the Toronto and the Portland expansion teams will start playing.
Tatum, who is managed by his mother Brandy Cole, has inked endorsement deals Jordan Brand, Gatorade, Subway, NBA 2K, and Ruffles, earning an estimated $13 million those endorsements, according to Forbes. The outet pegs his net worth at $45.9 million. Tatum is also the founder of The Jayson Tatum Foundation, which aims to inspire children, teens, and their families through education, athletics, and support.
