Drake sends message to WNBA: ‘I need a Toronto team’

Drake wants the WNBA to expand to Toronto.

The rapper, who also goes by the name “Champagne Papi,” addressed the WNBA on Wednesday, writing in an Instagram story, “I need a Toronto team.”

WNBA expansion has been a popular topic of discussion this year, with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert saying in September that the “depth” of the WNBA supports adding more markets to the 12-team league.

“It’s going to be driven by data and analysis of markets that would support women’s professional basketball, women’s sports, committed owners, the right demographics values and all that stuff,” she said. “There’s plenty of cities in this country that deserve a WNBA team, so we’ll be talking more seriously about that.”

Then, before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals last month, Engelbert said expansion was “on the horizon.”

The city of Oakland has taken major steps toward acquiring an expansion team, with four-time WNBA All-Star Alana Beard set to lead a group of investors trying to bring a team to the city.

Drake currently has an estimated net worth of $150 million. He has not indicated whether he would put any money toward a team, but he has long been a supporter of the WNBA. A native of Toronto, he is currently an ambassador for the Raptors.