Pistons 'In Talks' To Revive WNBA Team in Detroit

(L-R) Ruth Riley #00, Cheryl Ford #35, Swin Cash #32, Deanna Nolan #14 and Barbara Ferris #54 of the Detroit Shock celebrate on the podium after defeating the two-time champion Los Angeles Sparks in Game three of the 2003 WNBA Finals on September 16, 2003 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Shock won 83-78, taking their first WNBA Championship.

Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images

The WNBA has been gaining traction. And they’re only continuing to grow. A report from Sports Illustrated mentions that the Pistons have reportedly “been in conversation” with the WNBA to advocate for the return of the Detroit team in the league’s future expansion plans.

“The Detroit Shock enjoyed success and won championships during their run in the 2000s and we celebrated the anniversary of their 2003 championship at a Pistons game last year,” Pistons chief communication officer Kevin Grigg told Crains Detroit Business. “While nothing is imminent, the prospects of bringing a WNBA team back to Detroit are intriguing and we have interest should they open another round of expansion. We will continue to engage in conversation with the WNBA going forward.”

A report from Sports Business Journal said that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert “wants the league to be at 16 teams by 2028.” Under its current expansion, the WNBA will grow from 12 to 14 teams, adding the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 and a Toronto team that has yet to be named in 2026.

The Detroit Shock debuted in 1998 as one of the league's first expansion franchises and won championships in 2003, 2006, and 2008. Despite its success, it was “losing money,” and the team moved to Tulsa in 2010. Longtime Pistons owner Bill Davidson also “owned the Shock and sold the team.”

Fans React to The Possibility of A WNBA Team Coming Back To Detroit

Someone started the conversation on Reddit asking what other people's thoughts were on the Pistons advocating for a WNBA team in Detroit in their future expansion. One person said, “As a Lansing-area resident who cheers hard for the Sky and drives many miles and pays many $$$ to stay overnight to see my nearest team play -- if there was a Detroit team, I would be 100% all in on season tickets. I would give ANYTHING for this!”

Another person said, “Shock should have never had to leave. Would love to see them return in any way!!” Someone jokingly else said, “Maybe NOW Detroit can have a solid basketball team [laughing emoji].” One Redditor chimed in on this comment, saying, “It would be nice for the people of Detroit to finally have a professional basketball team to cheer for.”

Metro Detroit buzzed with energy at 6 Championship Drive, the former site of The Palace of Auburn Hills, once the proud home of the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Shock. I believe it would be a fantastic idea to bring the Shock back, especially now with all the excitement surrounding the WNBA.

Additionally, having another Detroit basketball team to cheer for would be wonderful. No shade to the Pistons, but their stats speak for themselves.

Last year, the 2003 Shock players and staff reunited when the Pistons celebrated the anniversary of Detroit’s first WNBA championship during a home game against the Charlotte Hornets.

“The 2003 Detroit Shock changed the way women’s basketball was played forever,” Bill Laimbeer, head coach for all of the Shock’s three championships, remarked in the clip.

Kayla MorganWriter

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.