The long-inactive home of one of the most successful franchises in WNBA history is set to be revived. Detroit, which boasts three WNBA Championships with the Shock between 1998 and 2009, has been chosen to be part of a significant league expansion that will grow the WNBA to 18 teams. The announcement came on Monday, revealing Cleveland and Philadelphia as the other major cities joining Detroit.
These three new expansion cities will join the existing 15 teams, including three recent expansions: the Golden State Valkyries, who start playing this season, followed by the Toronto Tempo and an as-yet-unrevealed Portland team in 2025. Cleveland will join in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030, marking consecutive expansions toward the decade’s end.
This marks a return for Detroit and Cleveland to the WNBA after Cleveland’s original team, the Rockers, played from 1997 to 2003. The Detroit Shock dominated early on with three titles in six years but faced challenges after a poor season in 2003, leading to ownership, management, and coaching changes amid economic difficulties. The team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, retaining the Shock name, then later relocated again to Dallas, becoming the Wings.
Monday’s announcement celebrates Detroit’s return to the WNBA, a city with the highest number of hosted WNBA games historically. The Palace of Auburn Hills set attendance records, including over 22,000 fans in key playoff games between 2003 and 2007. Although that arena was demolished in 2020, Detroit now boasts the Little Caesars Arena, opened in 2017, which hosts the Pistons and NHL’s Red Wings. The new WNBA franchise will play there, with Pistons owner Tom Gores leading the city’s bid backed by prominent athletes and celebrities from Michigan.
Gores expressed pride in bringing the WNBA back to Detroit, emphasizing the city’s rich basketball history and the collective effort to inspire the next generation of fans while advancing women’s professional sports.
Reflecting personally, the author recalls being nine years old when the Shock won their first title, a bittersweet memory of a beloved team leaving the city. Despite the pain of losing the franchise, the dominant era of the Shock remains a proud part of Detroit’s sports legacy, with former players and coaches staying connected to the community.
Now, a new chapter in Detroit’s women’s basketball story is beginning, representing hope and growth in a city that has faced many hardships. Detroit’s motto, “Detroit vs. everyone,” embodies the resilient spirit welcoming the WNBA’s return. While questions remain, such as whether the Shock name will be revived, this expansion is a momentous occasion for the city and its fans.
Detroit basketball is undeniably back.
—
Fan Take: This news is a thrilling milestone for WNBA fans, particularly those who have cherished Detroit’s basketball heritage. Bringing the league back to a city so deeply ingrained in the sport’s history not only honors past triumphs but also promises to fuel the growth and visibility of women’s professional basketball in a passionate market.
