Gores and investor group submit bid for a WNBA team in Detroit 15 years after the Shock left town
Detroit might once again be home to a franchise in the WNBA . Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, together with his wife Holly and local investors, have submitted a bid for a WNBA franchise in Detroit.
It’s been over 15 years since the Detroit Shock left town, but in their 12 seasons as a franchise, they accumulated three WNBA titles and, from 2004-09, finished in the top 4 in attendance. That includes leading the WNBA in attendance in the franchise’s final three seasons in Detroit.
The Shock didn’t move because of lack of fan interest but because of the death of Shock and Pistons owner Bill Davidson. Davidson’s widow, Karen, cut costs throughout the franchise in order to position the team for a future sale. Gores eventually bought the Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment for $325 million in 2011. The franchise was most recently valued at $3.4 billion by Forbes.
“This is an exciting opportunity to welcome the WNBA back to Detroit and bring additional investment and economic activity into the city,” Gores said via a team release. “For the WNBA this is home, and our bid represents an unprecedented opportunity for the league to come full circle and effect a long-hoped-for Detroit homecoming. No city is more prepared to embrace the team as a community asset that drives unity and common ground.”
The investor group representing the official bid also includes Arn Tellem and Nancy Tellem, Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and husband Steve Hamp, Grant Hill and wife Tamia, Chris Webber, Jared Goff and wife Christen Goff, General Motors CEO Mary Barra and husband Tony Barra, and others.
The Shock won titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008 led by Swin Cash, Katie Smith, Deanna Nolan and others. During its heyday, the team was coached by former Pistons great Bill Laimbeer. The Shock relocated to Tulsa until 2016 when they relocated again and became the Dallas Wings, where they play today.
A group of investors led by Bill and Crissy Haslam, Candace Parker, and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw also submitted a bid for a WNBA franchise in Nashville.
Cleveland, Kansas City, Houston, Austin, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and St. Louis are previous cities that have submitted bids or expressed strong interest for what might be the last addition to the WNBA team roster for a few years.
The WNBA set a goal to expand from 12 teams to 16 by 2028. The Golden State Valkyries will begin play in 2025, and teams in Portland and Toronto will begin in 2026. The WNBA season begins on May 16.