CHICAGO — After years of apathy, NBA owners suddenly are clamoring to get in on the booming business of the WNBA.

The owners of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers were awarded expansion franchises that will enter the league over the next five years. Houston Rockets ownership is preparing a second bid to bring back the Comets. And Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca is attempting to close a purchase to move the Connecticut Sun to Boston.

By 2030, nine of the 18 WNBA teams could be operated by primary NBA owners. That’s in addition to two teams helmed by owners from other major men’s leagues — the Los Angeles Sparks with Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter and the Las Vegas Aces with Raiders owner Mark Davis — and partial NBA stakeholders in the ownership g

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