MIAMI — Sheri Sam, an All-Star with Miami in 2002, works as the scouting manager for the Portland Trail Blazers. Guard Sandy Brondello played five years in the WNBA (two with the Sol) before she became head coach of the Phoenix Mercury and now the New York Liberty. Debbie Black — who won Defensive Player of the Year with Miami in 2001 — has coached women’s college basketball since the 1999-2000 season, with stops at Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Eastern Illinois and now Chattanooga. Ruth Riley Hunter (known as Ruth Riley when she played), the Sol’s first-round pick in 2001, now works in the Miami Heat’s front office. Sol assistant coach Jenny Boucek works as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers.
With all that legacy and more in mind (Sylvia Fowles — often heralded as one of the greatest to play the game — hails from the 305), what if someone were to bring a WNBA franchise back to Miami?
In one of the latest steps to grow the game, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced plans in May to expand the WNBA by “a couple teams.” She listed several cities interested in procuring a franchise in an interview with Boardroom in July, which also included the state of Florida. It previously housed two WNBA teams: the Miami Sol (2000-2002) and the Orlando Miracle (1999-2002, since the Connecticut Sun).
