The Nashville Sports Authority meeting on March 20, 2025, highlighted significant developments in local sports, including the recent SEC tournament and Nashville's bid for a WNBA team.

The SEC tournament, which expanded to include Texas and Oklahoma, saw record attendance and was praised as a major success. The tournament ran from Wednesday to Sunday, featuring eight sessions and showcasing 14 of the 16 participating teams in the NCAA tournament. The event was notable for its live ESPN selection show from Bridgestone Arena Plaza, marking a first for the network outside its studio. The Sports Authority discussed the financial aspects of the tournament, noting that expenses related to staffing and hospitality would be reimbursed through sales tax funds generated by the venue's users. A proposal to increase this reimbursement amount will be presented to the finance committee next month.

In addition to the SEC tournament, the meeting addressed Nashville's bid to become the sixteenth team in the WNBA. Michelle Kennedy, a key figure in the bid, reported overwhelming community support and highlighted the involvement of prominent local figures, including Bill and Chrissy Haslam and Peyton Manning. While Nashville faces competition from 10 to 12 other cities, Kennedy expressed confidence in the city's bid and the commitment of its ownership group to bring professional women's basketball to Nashville.

Kennedy emphasized that the push for a WNBA team is part of a broader goal to establish a lasting presence for women's sports in the city. Although there are no official announcements regarding the selection process, there are indications that the league may consider expanding beyond 16 teams in the future.

The meeting concluded with a sense of optimism about Nashville's sports landscape, with both the SEC tournament and the WNBA bid showcasing the city's potential as a hub for major sporting events.