The WNBA's growing footprint has opened the door to cities dreaming of joining the league's next chapter. As demand for women's basketball surges, one Canadian city is emerging as a potential destination. With local interest building, the basketball landscape north of the border could be in for a major shift. 

That city is Vancouver, where a group of local basketball figures is working to bring a WNBA franchise to town, with hopes of landing a team as early as 2031.

The effort is being led by retired business executive Bill Bakk, alongside Deloitte managing partner Jodi Evans and longtime UBC basketball coach Kevin Hanson. The trio has reportedly spent more than a year quietly building their case before going public with the plan this past September.  

According to the reports put out by Front Office Sports' Colin Salao, the WNBA has not announced plans to expand beyond the three teams already set to join by 2030: Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Still, Bakk said he's received feedback from other WNBA owners indicating the idea of a Vancouver franchise is "feasible." 

While 2031 remains the group's target, Bakk and Evans say they're flexible on the exact timeline and open to the idea of an existing franchise relocating to Vancouver instead. Bakk further spoke about the group's mindset.

"We want to be ready," Bakk said during the interview. "You never know in the world of sports as to when franchises move. I know that's not something that will probably happen here. But nevertheless, our standing line is we want to be ready for whatever reason in that period of time."

Whether through expansion or relocation, Vancouver's bid group is betting that patience and preparation will eventually pay off. For a city that has long shown its appetite for women's professional sports, the path to a WNBA franchise may just be a matter of time. 

Inside the hurdles facing Vancouver's WNBA bid

Turning interest into an actual franchise won't be simple. Bakk's group is aiming to raise roughly $500 million Canadian, split between an expansion fee estimated at $250 million and the cost of building a practice facility. 

That fee has climbed sharply in recent years, growing fivefold from what the league's first expansion team paid just a few seasons ago.  

So far, no investors or sponsors have officially signed on, though in the aforementioned interview Bakk says there's serious interest circulating. 

"One of the other investors, dominant potential investors, has said that we need to have that skill set in our group," Bakk said during the interview. 

Vancouver also lacks something most WNBA expansion markets share: a connected NBA franchise for infrastructure and ownership synergy. Still, Rogers Arena, home of the NHL's Canucks, has already hosted WNBA games and remains the group's top venue option. 

With money, venue, and league leadership all still up in the air, Vancouver's WNBA bid remains far from guaranteed. But the group seems content to play the long game.

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco