The Guru Report: A New Philadelphia Story Emerges at WNBA All-Star Game

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

CHICAGO - Throughout the history of the WNBA All-Star Game, stories, including some unique ones, have had their share of Philadelphia angles.

In the early years there was Dawn Staley as a player and then adding to her profile the title of coach of Temple.

Then as Dawn moved to the sunset of her court magic came the special moment on opposite teams in the old Eastern-Western Conference configurations when she got into the game opposite her former All-Owls American Candice Dupree, who was a first round pick that year (2006) of the expansion Chicago Sky.

In more recent times also out of the Sky but not out of the blue has come the emergence of former Rutgers great Kahleah Copper, who last year helped lead Chicago to its first championship.

On Sunday, here in Wintrust Arena, which saw Staley, now coach of two-time NCAA champion South Carolina, as of last April, in a front row seat watching her former Gamecocks sensation A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces co-captain one team and Copper back in the All-Star lineup, the special Philly angle came prior to the opening tip during the annual mid-season state of the league presser from Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

With the clamoring from fans and media in recent years for expansion, considering the number of quality players who end up on the cutting room floor in the 12-team league, Engelbert noted that a timeline targeting is aimed at 2025, longshot 2024, for adding two more teams and out of 100 locales that have underwent datapoint study, the WNBA has narrowed the list to 15 cities.

A few questions later, The Inquirer’s Jonathan Tannenwald then circled back and asked Engelbert, who grew up across the Delaware in South Jersey, and played for Muffet McGraw at Lehigh, is Philadelphia one of those 15 and she acknowledged in the positive. 

Head over to The Inquirer’s website to read his report, including reactions from Staley, new Temple coach Diane Richardson, who was also here recruiting at the Nike AAU tourney held across the street. and Copper. 

Now the question is where on the list does the City of Sisterly Love sit?

Based on a bunch of cities speculated recently in a report in The Athletic, Philadelphia needs to climb to a shorter list when the decision nears for the league to pull the trigger.

Of those mentioned, if one is to be in the Eastern Conference in name only sector - the top eight regardless of geography now make the playoff field - Toronto off of stories on the topic might be the lead dog though Nashville may figure.

Personally, off the career notoriety here, l can say in 1996 when two leagues - the WNBA and 2 season plus 2-months ABL - formed, a ton of inquiries came this way on when would Philly get a team. 

In short order, after one season, Richmond with Staley and now Drexel coach Amy Mallon on the roster moved North but struggled in its time, lacking in the larger financial support needed before the ABL itself collapsed in early December season three under bankruptcy.

But for Philadelphia, live access to the WNBA was not difficult because New York was a two-hour cheap Jersey Transit commuter trip (including the total travel components) away, while Washington maybe three total by auto or bus. Amtrak used to be reasonable before pricing and schedule times became a challenge. 

New York now adds the subway component after the Liberty moved from Madison Square Garden to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn after the ownership change.

And there are ways to make a nice weekend trip to the Mohegan Sun near New London, Conn., where the former Orlando Miracle became the Connecticut Sun in 2003.

Thus, general interest in the Philly area then withered with more people outside the area throwing Philly franchise questions this way then inside the geographical footprint.

But not before former 76ers owner Pat Croce made a push in the early expansion era, losing to Detroit at a time only NBA Owners were allowed to bid.

Then Allen Iverson got drafted and with the effort needed to get the NBA franchise up to snuff the 76ers stood down on the WNBA initiative unable to fill the year-round summer-winter drill required for getting a franchise.

For several years after the ABL demise when the Connecticut area then clamored for a WNBA team, it was to no avail until the national economy tanked and WNBA president Val Ackerman no longer was willing to donate her body as a welcome mat for potential owners to step over when the Mohegans not only had bucks to take Orlando but also had enough change out of their casino revenue to help the overall cause of the league.

Times have changed in Engelbert saying Sunday “l feel comfortable with our budget …” on several issues adding charters to the travel during the finals, boosting payouts for the payoffs, and next year increasing the regular season schedule which went up this season to 40 games next year — the CBA has a ceiling of 44.

Team Wilson coach Becky Hammon, asked off her NBA Experience with San Antonio what could the WNBA adopt, an charter flights quickly came the ancwer.

The number one question on Philly when Jonathan and the Inquirer’s Mike Jensen, yours truly, and some league-level people with local ties toss back and forth is who’s got the bucks.

Who’s the owner or owners willing to spend the bucks and withstand a redline for several seasons.

Former Saint Joseph’s star Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics in the last year alluded to an effort but tapped that down afterwards while still pumping the cause.

Speaking of Washington, once former Delaware all-American Elena Delle Done went from Chicago to the nearby Mystics within 90 minutes away, a desire for a Philly team from that sector went off the urgent wish list.

As Jonathan and I talked afterwards Sunday, perhaps someone or group has made an attention-getting approach strong enough to make the list but not ready to put their name in public or still needs to add some pieces.

When Staley was coaching Temple and casino expansion was occurring in the city she was aligned with a bidding group aligned with the late Lewis Katz. At a time gambling was a devil to NCAA leadership Staley was cleared to go, had the group won their bid her stake was earmarked for the cause of her foundation.

Though Staley will be with South Carolina for a long time as of now, Michael Horsey who helps her annual Dawn Staley Award is a potential person who could assemble a local oenership group.

Without regard to geography, the Bay Area of Oakland-San Francisco-San Jose is likely already on the short list.

Within the Philly area, there’s been a cultural upgrade beyond the faithful. 

When dining in sports bars the Guru has seen an increasing number of women’s games on screens - WNBA in the summer and colleges in the winter. 

When conversations start in Uber and Lyft rides, and the Guru responds to what he does, many times knowledge on the topic is returned from the driver.

And prior to expansion talk suddenly ramping up, Drexel women’s sportscaster Ari Bluestein, who owns the Sports Fan Base Network, in boosting women’s interest in the area is looking at several events to create or launch to stream, including the Philly Women’s Summer League playoffs which begin July 26th.

As to where to play, it was interesting last week in Jonathan’s piece on Philly women’s pro teams, that rather than being dismissed out of hand, the Wells Fargo Arena folks said they could make the venue work in a downsized configuration as has been done in other NBA arenas.

If not stand alone in either place all season when talking the Philly question, the Guru has suggested alternating urban/suburban home stands with Villanova and Temple or Penn as hosts.

Allentown has a nice arena but likely a tiny bit far away for a season-long schedule though the area is the home of former Tennessee great Michelle Marciniak, who also played for the Rage.

The 76ers facility in Wilmington near the train station was nice for the Atlantic 10 women’s playoffs but Engelbert would need to determine if the place is large enough for the league.

For now on the topic - to be continued.

Summer League Resumes: After a week off for the July 4th holiday, action resumes Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades in Hatboro, Pa.

On Thursday night, an iron women effort will come from Black/D2 Jefferson and Purple/D2 West Chester, each playing two games.

Avoiding a forfeit earlier last month in the result, they’ll meet each other at 6:30 on Court 3. Then at 7:45 p.m. they’ll play their regular season games.

The nine-game schedules conclude next Tuesday and playoffs begin a week from Thursday with a 7-10 and 8-9 doubleheader, winners advancing to the quarterfinals on July 26.