In a statement to WUNC, the Charlotte Hornets confirmed its ownership group is backing a bid to bring a WNBA expansion franchise to Charlotte. The Sting played in Charlotte from 1997 to 2006.

As Channel 9′s Joe Bruno reports, no one is more hopeful than girls’ basketball players who want to see their sport grow.

South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley was one of the stars of the Sting during her playing days. She played seven seasons in Charlotte from 1999-2005 and was a four-time WNBA All-Star, averaging 8.9 points and 5.4 assists per game. For most of her WNBA career in Charlotte, she also served as the head basketball coach at Temple.