The Hornets could be headed to New Orleans next season, but they might leave their Sting behind in Charlotte.

While Charlotte Hornets owners Ray Woolridge and George Shinn struck a deal Thursday that, pending NBA approval, would relocate the team to the New Orleans Arena, the future of the Hornets' WNBA counterpart, the Charlotte Sting, remains uncertain.

	“	If the Hornets move, it's unclear whether we will stay here in Charlotte and have a lame duck year of sorts or if we will move with them to New Orleans. Right now, we're prepared to be here for the 2002 season, and we'll do what we have to if we have to move to New Orleans. ”
		— Sting spokesperson John Maxwell

WNBA commissioner Val Ackerman refused to speculate on the probability of the team's move to New Orleans. She did say she was "obviously concerned" about the team's future.

Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster announced the deal with the Hornets on his weekly radio show Thursday, and Woolridge and Shinn later joined local politicians in New Orleans for a signing ceremony. All three said they were confident the Hornets' move would get the necessary approval from NBA owners.

"I don't know what the resolution will be, but whatever happens it will impact the Sting," Ackerman said. WNBA guidelines stipulate that teams must stick to their NBA affiliate since it's the NBA owners that have the teams' operating licenses.

Doug Thornton, general manager of the Superdome/New Orleans Arena, was unavailable to comment on whether an arena lease agreement involves the Sting.

"If the Hornets stay, we'll obviously be here," said John Maxwell, a spokesperson for the Sting, a team that came back from a 1-10 start last season to play for the WNBA championship. "If the Hornets move, it's unclear whether we will stay here in Charlotte and have a lame duck year of sorts or if we will move with them to New Orleans. Right now, we're prepared to be here for the 2002 season, and we'll do what we have to if we have to move to New Orleans."

"We are a perfect fit. We love New Orleans," Wooldridge said Wednesday after meeting with Foster in Baton Rouge, La. While Wooldridge and Shinn operate the Sting, collectively all 29 NBA teams own the WNBA's 16 teams. Ackerman said the league has no immediate plans to either expand or contract the league.

Since the 18,500-seat New Orleans Arena is expected to undergo renovations to expand the number of luxury suites from 44 to 60, having the WNBA team play in the arena over the coming summer season might not be possible.

Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at Darren.rovell@espn.com