General | July 2, 2025 | 9:55
Women's professional basketball is officially returning to the Motor City! It was announced this week that Detroit has been awarded a WNBA expansion franchise, alongside Cleveland and Philadelphia, with all three teams set to join the league within the next five years.
Detroit's new WNBA team is slated to tip off in
2029, marking a long-awaited return of elite women's basketball to the city. As we look forward to the next generation of WNBA stars calling Detroit home, we also celebrate the rich legacy left behind by the
Detroit Shock.
Founded in 1998 as part of the WNBA's early expansion, the Shock were named in homage to Detroit's automotive roots—"shock absorbers" being essential to the smooth performance of locally manufactured vehicles.
The team struggled in its early years, including a 9-23 finish in the 2002 season. That changed when former Detroit Pistons "Bad Boy"
Bill Laimbeer took over as head coach mid-season and laid the foundation for a championship-caliber team. With a powerhouse roster featuring
Deanna Nolan, Swin Cash, Cheryl Ford, Ruth Riley, and others, the Shock finished the 2003 season with a 25-9 record and captured the
WNBA Championship—becoming the first team in league history to go from worst to first.
The dominance didn't stop there. The Shock went on to win two more titles in
2006 and 2008, joining an elite group of franchises with three or more championships. From 2006–2008, Detroit also led the WNBA in attendance, showcasing the city's passion for the game. In 2009, the team relocated to Tulsa and later became the
Dallas Wings in 2015—but the spirit of the Shock has always remained in Detroit.
Now, a new era begins.
The upcoming WNBA team will call
Little Caesars Arena home and will feature an ownership group that includes local sports icons
Grant Hill, Chris Webber, and
Jared Goff as minority investors. Their involvement underscores Detroit's commitment to growing the game and investing in the future of women's sports.
Women's basketball is more than back—it's being reimagined for a new generation in Detroit. We can't wait to see what's next.
