Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington has one thing on her mind: turning Jayson Tatum’s WNBA dreams away from his hometown and pointing them directly at Boston. And she’s not being shy about it. On Tuesday, Carrington took to X (formerly known as Twitter, because why wouldn’t a social media platform change names randomly?) to nudge the Celtics superstar toward bringing a women’s pro basketball team to the city of clam chowder and championships.
Her timing? Impeccable. This all comes on the heels of reports suggesting Tatum is eyeing a whopping $200 million bid to bring a WNBA expansion team to St. Louis, the very city where he grew up honing his jump shot. Now, it seems Carrington is challenging him to reconsider, suggesting he might want to drop the St. Louis nostalgia and focus on a new frontier: Boston.
But why stop there? Carrington went full court on social media, asking, “What about a bid to move a team to Boston??🙂” And let’s be honest, that’s not just a question—that’s a dare. Forget the polite emoji; that smiley face is just the digital version of a knowing smirk.
Wait, Who’s Writing the Checks Here?
It turns out Tatum isn’t flying solo in this bid. According to Essence’s Kimberly Wilson, he’s teamed up with businessmen Richard Chaifetz and David Hoffman to strengthen the pitch. The plan? Secure the Chaifetz Arena at Saint Louis University as the team’s home court. Oh, and by the way, Tatum also just inked a five-year, $315 million deal with the Celtics. So, yeah, he’s got some spare cash to throw around.
But if Carrington has anything to say about it, that spare change could be better spent on a WNBA team right here in Boston—because let’s face it, there’s always room for more banners hanging in TD Garden.
The NBA’s New Power Move: Buy a WNBA Team!
And here’s where it gets interesting: thanks to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement in 2023, NBA players can now own stakes in WNBA teams. That’s right, the league basically handed Tatum and his peers the keys to invest in the future of women’s sports. Think about it: NBA guys with WNBA teams? It’s like superheroes finally deciding to open a daycare for future Avengers.
With the Golden State Valkyries joining the WNBA next season, and teams in Toronto and Portland set for 2026, it feels like the league is expanding faster than your cousin’s MLM scheme. And, of course, Carrington would love to see Boston get in on the action, because why should San Francisco get all the fun?
Carrington’s New Playground: Unrivaled
If you thought DiJonai Carrington was going to stop at just calling out Tatum, think again. She’s got big plans on the horizon. Fresh off a breakout 2024 WNBA season where she averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and a few shattered egos on defense, Carrington’s now set to take part in the new 3×3 basketball league, Unrivaled. Oh, and by the way, she also snagged the 2024 Most Improved Player award while casually landing on the All-Defensive First Team. No biggie.
Unrivaled, which sounds like the kind of league where “pushing the pace” means leaving defenders gasping for air, kicks off in January in Miami. Stars like Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, and Kate Martin are also set to make their mark on the league, founded by none other than Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. It’s like a WNBA all-star vacation, except with a lot more broken ankles on defense.
So, Jayson, the ball’s in your court now—are you sticking with the St. Louis nostalgia, or will Carrington’s not-so-subtle challenge get you thinking about Boston? Either way, we’re here for the show. Just let us know where to buy the popcorn.”
