Toronto Raptors’ ambassador Drake calls for WNBA expansion

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6:08 PM ET

  • Kelly CohenESPN

We know Drake, the Canadian-born hip-hop star, is a huge basketball fan. He is usually observed at NBA and WNBA functions and references equally leagues in different lyrics. He even has an official career with his hometown workforce, the Toronto Raptors.

Now the celebrity musician is striving to get the WNBA in Canada.

“I need a Toronto team,” Drake, born Aubrey Graham, posted on an Instagram story Wednesday morning to his 95.5 million followers. He tagged the formal WNBA account, far too.

.@Drake has spoken ?

(by using @espnW) pic.twitter.com/BHDfyMDBnk

— ESPN (@espn) November 3, 2021

The proof that Drake supports The W has existed for some time. In excess of the summer months, the four-time Grammy winner was seen rocking the WNBA’s legendary orange hoodie. In his verse on Travis Scott’s 2018 track “Sicko Method,” Drake referenced Liz Cambage. He posted a photo on Instagram with the Las Vegas Aces star forward on Wednesday evening.

Even though the NBA has been in Canada since 1995, there are no WNBA teams outdoors of the United States. The past time the 12-crew league expanded was in 2009, when it additional the Atlanta Dream.

Growth, having said that, is not a new matter for the league and, according to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, new teams could be added quickly.

“I suspect by upcoming summer season or this time following yr, in our 26th season, we’ll be conversing about the quantity of groups and a list of where [new franchises might land],” Engelbert informed ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel and Tisha Thompson in Oct.

Previous WNBA participant Alana Beard has joined the effort and hard work to bring an growth workforce to Oakland, the 14-year veteran declared in Oct.

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Beard, who won the 2016 WNBA championship with the Los Angeles Sparks, announced that she will associate with the African American Sports & Amusement Team in pursuit of a new franchise.

Drake’s pitch is just not the 1st just one about a group in Canada.

Minnesota Lynx guard Bridget Carleton — who is from Chatham-Kent in Ontario and has performed on the Canadian nationwide group — tweeted that she “officially began manifesting” bringing a qualified women’s basketball league to her home country.

Men’s pro basketball continuing to improve in ??… I’ve formally begun manifesting a Canadian women’s specialist basketball league in the in the vicinity of potential https://t.co/PpTdYHtZtM

— Bridget Carleton (@bridgecarleton) Oct 27, 2021

In 2019, The Undefeated’s Sean Hurd wrote how Drake’s effective do the job with the Raptors helps make him an great candidate to convey an expansion crew to Canada.

In the meantime, WNBA groups have consistently marketed for about $10 million to $15 million, according to general public documents, posted stories and sporting activities bankers. Drake’s web worthy of? An believed $150 million or far more. Insert eye emoji here.