Nestled within today’s marathon press conference about the partnership between the 76ers and Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in South Philly was some promising news for women’s basketball fans: The push for Philly’s long-discussed WNBA expansion franchise is a priority.

In fact, Comcast is joining the effort as a minority stakeholder in a potential Philly WNBA franchise.

“The icing on the cake is we’re working together to bring the WNBA to Philadelphia, which I think could be amazing as well,” said Brian L. Roberts, CEO and chair of Comcast at the press conference, which also announced his company’s partnership with the Sixers to develop the new arena in South Philly and revitalize Market East. The shock of that news on Sunday elicited joy from Center City Arena opponents and surprise and anger from some council members who took very difficult votes for the original plan.

The Sixers’ push for a WNBA franchise in Philadelphia was promised in the Center City arena plan. The addition of Comcast as a minority stakeholder in the possible expansion team is a new wrinkle.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was reportedly part of the effort that brought the Sixers back to the South Philly sports complex. He attended Monday’s press conference virtually and spoke encouragingly of the possibilities.

“I greatly appreciate the leadership of Mayor [Cherelle] Parker and Governor [Josh] Shapiro and the willingness of [Sixers’ owners] HBSE and Comcast to join forces, the result of which will be a world-class arena for 76ers and Flyers fans, with opportunities for more teams to come,” Silver said.

Esther Rosen, a grassroots advocate for a Philly WNBA franchise who runs the popular ”WNBA Philly” social media accounts, called the update “very exciting news.”

“Whatever gets us a team, ultimately,” she wrote in an email. “The WNBA Philly community seems stoked about the franchise bid news as well.”

The WNBA currently has 12 teams, with the Golden State Valkyries joining in the upcoming season and franchises in Toronto and Portland scheduled to make it 15 by 2026. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert — a Collingswood, N.J. native — said in October that a 16th team is slated for 2027 or 2028, and confirmed that Philly was on the list of 10 to 12 viable candidates. The league has been vocal about wanting to see NBA teams attached to expansion franchises.

Watch Party PHL has also advocated for a WNBA franchise at the grassroots level. Its host and founder, Jen Leary, called the new proposal a win for everyone, saying that the bid is strengthened by the inclusion of Comcast and removing the divisiveness that came with the Center City arena.

“Now that everyone is on the same page, now that there’s this huge partnership with the investor groups, the Sixers and Comcast, and they listened to the people of Chinatown, it’ll be so much easier for the people of Philadelphia to get behind this,” she said.

Riding a wave of interest in women’s sports that surged with then-collegiate star Caitlyn Clark last year, “The W” had a breakthrough last season, with an average attendance of 9,807, up a staggering 48% from the previous year. It also had a new record attendance of 20,711.

A Philly bid, spearheaded by comedian Wanda Sykes and her wife Alex Niedbalski-Sykes, has been in the works since 2021. The couple were at City Hall Monday for the update, confirming their involvement in the current bid. 

They’re hardly alone. Among the big names involved in the bid for the team — that could potentially be called the Philadelphia Sisters — were Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, tennis legend Billie Jean King, South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, and the Roots drummer Questlove. Then-Councilperson and now-Mayor Cherelle Parker supported the effort, as did Sixers co-owner David Adelman and Comcast, Niedbalski-Sykes revealed at Monday’s press conference.

“To see them standing up there today really renewed my hope that this could actually be a possibility here in Philadelphia, and sooner rather than later,” Leary said of the couple.

“I don’t think our odds could be any more favorable than the position we are in right now,” Sykes said at the press conference. “With the support of the mayor, this amazing team, Governor Shapiro. Just thank you, this is just such an amazing day

“And go Birds,” Sykes closed, apologizing to Sixers’ Josh Harris, who also owns the NFL’s Washington Commanders.