It’s been only a few days since Jayson Tatum inked a record-breaking $315 million deal with the Boston Celtics, and now he’s eyeing a huge investment. Tatum has placed a staggering $200 million bid to establish a new WNBA franchise in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. But his ambition has sparked an unexpected response from Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington, who made an intriguing request to the Celtics star.

After hearing about Tatum’s $200 million bid, Carrington reposted the news on her official X account and asked, “What about a bid to move a team to Boston?” The Sun’s 5-foot-11 guard from San Diego, California, seemed to be suggesting that Tatum invest in a WNBA team in the very city he plays for in the NBA.

But why Boston? Boston isn’t just any city; it’s a sports powerhouse, home to four major sports teams—the Celtics, the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Red Sox—that collectively boast an impressive 39 championships. The Celtics themselves even won a title as recently as last June. But that’s not all there is to Boston!

With a population of over 650,000, Boston is one of the largest cities in the United States. That may be why Carrington, who just completed her fourth season in the WNBA, is interested in seeing another East Coast WNBA team join the mix. But why is Tatum interested in investing in a WNBA franchise?

Tatum is eyeing for a big change in WNBA

The 2025 WNBA season is poised to be historic as the league expands with the Golden State Valkyries joining as its 13th franchise next season. Following them, teams from Toronto and Portland will join as the 14th and 15th franchises, though their official names are still pending. There’s also talk of adding a 16th team.

As for the 16th team, potential cities include Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Austin, Charlotte, Miami, Milwaukee, and St. Louis, where Tatum hopes to plant roots. He sees this as a prime opportunity to boost women’s sports in his birthplace. His bid was made possible by a recent WNBA rule change that allows NBA players to own stakes in WNBA teams.

This opportunity aligns with Tatum’s desire to both honor his hometown and make a strategic investment in women’s sports. St. Louis holds a special place for him; it’s where he spent his childhood before heading to Duke University. With the WNBA’s momentum growing, arenas are now filled to 94% capacity, and games are frequently sold out. It’s clear that Tatum’s bid could inspire other players to follow suit.