NBA secures more regular-season games in Mexico with NBA, WNBA expansion in mind
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The half-time show at the NBA game between the Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards on Nov 2.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MEXICO CITY – The Day of the Dead was lively on Nov 2 night in Mexico City, with the Miami Heat beating the Washington Wizards 118-98 and the National Basketball Association (NBA) securing more games in the Latin American city and looking to expand the NBA and WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association).
NBA commissioner Adam Silver is keen on Mexico’s potential as a growth market and sees the country as a safe path for the women’s league to expand its global footprint.
“Obviously (the women’s league) is coming off a tremendous season, huge uptick in attendance, huge uptick in viewership and fan interest, and I think they should be bringing a game here. We will talk to our colleagues about it,” he told a press conference.
The surge in interest in the WNBA has been fuelled by a star-studded rookie class, including Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, and a general appetite for female athletes around the world following the Paris Olympics.
The WNBA enjoyed record ratings and attendance in 2024 and has signed a television deal reportedly worth US$200 million (S$265 million) a season, and Silver pointed out the league may have “more immediate priorities in terms of growth”.
He also spoke of the multi-year deal with Mexico City organisers Zignia Live, which will see more regular-season matches played in the city. He did not reveal any details, but added that the country is the first to be considered for expansion.
“Personally I would love to have a team in Mexico City. It’s of course the largest city in North America. I believe if we were to come here, we would be Mexico’s team, not just Mexico City’s, and it would be a gateway into Latin America,” Silver said.
Mexican-American Jaime Jaquez Jr, in his second year with the Miami side, was the man of the hour in front of a sell-out crowd of 20,328 fans, adding fuel to the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations.
The Heat were on fire as two-time Olympic gold medallist Bam Adebayo finished with 32 points, 14 rebounds and two assists, while six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler added 18 points.
Bilal Coulibaly had 22 points and Jordan Poole chipped in with 21 points for the Wizards, whose starting line-up included rookies Alexandre Sarr, Carlton Carrington and Kyshawn George.
The Heat shot 42.2 per cent from the floor and hit 15 of 37 attempts from three-point range. The Wizards shot 41.8 per cent but finished just seven of 35 from deep. The Heat out-rebounded the Wizards 65-44.
Alonzo Mourning, Goran Dragic and Drew Gooden were invited as part of the NBA Legends showcase, with the first Mexican to play in the NBA, Horacio Llamas, and the second, Eduardo Najera, adding the icing on the cake. REUTERS
