WNBA in talks to play modified season in Bradenton, report says
The WNBA is in talks to play a modified season in Bradenton at IMG Academy, according to multiple reports.
ESPN first reported “the WNBA is proposing a 22-game regular season starting July 24.”
The proposal is tentative with players still needing to agree or give a counteroffer, and details on the playoffs that would end in October are not specified, ESPN reported.
IMG Academy has hosted several professional sports franchises and college programs as well as holding events on its campus. During the past decade, the private sports facility in Manatee County has held numerous basketball tournaments on the travel team and high school circuit, while also being home to pre-NBA Draft workouts and combine training. IMG hosted Michigan’s football team for spring football practice that garnered national attention in 2016.
Florida State, under former head coach Willie Taggart, held practices at IMG, too. The Las Vegas Raiders made the facility a stopping point in between games in recent seasons when the franchise was based in Oakland. Major League Soccer preseason training, along with clubs from various European countries, have played games and conducted training at IMG.
The academy was founded in the late 1970s, and served as a breeding ground for top tennis players under famed instructor Nick Bollettieri. Since it’s inception, IMG grew to encompass more land and offer more sports with boarding for student-athletes.
The WNBA’s season was supposed to begin May 15, but was postponed due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic caused by the respiratory illness, COVID-19. The league told ESPN it could not confirm the proposal, and the outlet reported specifics on housing and testing has not been confirmed.
IMG has a hotel next to its sports facilities. The Legacy hotel opened in October 2018 and is five stories with 150 rooms and cost more than $27.1 million to build.
The NBA Board of Governors approved Thursday a 22-team season comprised of eight games and playoffs to be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando, according to the Associated Press.
