Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has plans to invest in the WNBA as the league introduces its 16th franchise. Tatum hopes to expand the league with a team in his hometown of St. Louis. 

The 26-year-old who signed a five-year, $314 million contract in July — the NBA’s largest contract in history — has “informally agreed to invest in the team” with the ownership group led by billionaires Richard Chaifetz and David Hoffman, according to Sportico. Per the outlet, NBA players can own up to 4% of a WNBA franchise following the April 2023 ratification of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

St. Louis is already home to four professional sports teams: the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball, St. Louis City SC of Major League Soccer, the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League and the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League.

“St. Louis is a top-tier sports market, and we believe that bringing a WNBA franchise to the region will be a defining moment in the city’s ongoing revitalization,” Don Soffer, the investors’ spokesperson, said in a statement. 

Per Sportico, over a dozen candidates are expected, and winning investors could pay over $200 million. 

“The good news is we have a lot of demand from many cities,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said before the WNBA Finals, the outlet reported. “I’d say 10 or so, maybe even plus at this point, because I think the more people are watching the WNBA and seeing what we’re growing here and seeing these players and the product on the court, more people are interested in having it in their cities.”