WNBA returns to Detroit in 2029
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Detroit Shock players celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2003 WNBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Photo: Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images
The WNBA is coming back to Detroit in 2029 as part of a three-team expansion plan the league announced Monday morning.
Why it matters: The arrival of a new WNBA franchise is a major victory for the local economy and will boost Detroit's reputation as a premier American sports city.
What they're saying: "The demand for women's basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family," league commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.
- "This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league's extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women's professional basketball."
State of play: Pistons owner Tom Gores and his wife, Holly, lead Detroit's WNBA ownership group.
- Each new team paid a $250 million expansion fee, about five times what Golden State paid ahead of joining the league this season, per the AP.
- The team will play home games at Little Caesars Arena while a new practice facility and team headquarters is planned for the riverfront's former Uniroyal site, west of Belle Isle, the Free Press reports.
"This is a huge win for Detroit and the WNBA," Gores said in a statement. "Today marks the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition."
- "Detroit played a key role in the league's early growth, and we're proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends to new heights."
Flashback: The Detroit Shock won three WNBA championships (2003, 2006 and 2008) while playing here from 1998-2009 before moving to Tulsa.
Between the lines: The WNBA's expansion to 18 teams comes as the league surges in popularity behind young superstars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers.
- Cleveland and Philadelphia were also awarded teams Monday.
- Detroit billionaire Dan Gilbert's Rock Entertainment Group will own the franchise in Cleveland, where he already owns the NBA's Cavaliers.
The other side: Many other cities bid on a team and missed out, including St. Louis, Houston and Miami.
What's next: Detroit's new team needs a name.
- The Shock will be considered, but the ownership group hasn't decided, per the AP.