Detroit is set to welcome the WNBA back to the city in 2029, thanks to efforts from some prominent figures in the local sports and business community. Once home to the powerhouse Detroit Shock—winners of three WNBA titles in the early 2000s under head coach and former Bad Boy Piston Bill Laimbeer—the city lost its team in 2009 when the franchise relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma. That move is often viewed as a misstep by the league rather than a reflection on Detroit’s support for women’s basketball.
With the WNBA’s recent surge in popularity, the push to bring professional women’s basketball back to Detroit has gained serious momentum. According to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert, the league will officially expand to Detroit in 2029.
A major driving force behind this return is the Detroit Lions organization. Lions principal owner Sheila Ford Hamp and her husband, Steve Hamp, are part of an influential group of investors committed to reviving the WNBA in the city. Also stepping up to support the cause are Lions quarterback Jared Goff and his wife, Christen Goff.
Other high-profile investors involved include NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill and his wife, singer Tamia Hill, as well as General Motors CEO Mary Barra and her husband Tony Barra. The ownership group also features notable figures such as sports executive Arn Tellem and Nancy Tellem, basketball great Chris Webber, Roger and Carin Ehrenberg, Ethan and Gretchen Davidson, Denise Ilitch, KC and Ashley Crain, Larry Brinker Jr., Andra Rush, Sandy Pierce, Steve Jbara, Beth Chappell, Mindi Fynke, Suzanne Shank, and Matthew and Karen Cullen. Investment firm Sportsology Capital Partners is also part of the backing.
Earlier this year, the same group made an unsuccessful bid to bring a team to Detroit, with the WNBA choosing Cleveland for its 2026 expansion instead. However, with this latest announcement, Detroit is now officially next on the league’s expansion list.
As for the future team’s name, the investors are still exploring options. Keeping the historic “Shock” name is on the table, but they plan to conduct research and engage in discussions before making a final decision.
This marks the third professional sports venture for Ford Hamp and her husband this year. Back in May, they also launched a professional golf franchise.
