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Pistons have interest in possible WNBA expansion in Detroit, but ‘nothing is imminent’

WNBA had Detroit team from 1998 to 2009

The Detroit Shock crowd the floor after winning their WNBA Championship with an 80-75 win over the Sacramento Monarchs at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (CARLOS OSORIO, AP2006)

The Detroit Shock dominated the WNBA in the 2000s, winning three titles, before the franchise moved to Tulsa in 2009.

But with interest in the WNBA on the rise, there’s some buzz that Detroit could be a destination for an expansion team. While the prospect of that is exciting for fans, it’s not close to actually happening.

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The Pistons are interested in a possible plan to land a new WNBA team, but the league hasn’t opened expansion, and conversations have been mostly to gather information, according to a spokesman for the Pistons.

“We’ve had conversations with the WNBA to gather information and find out more regarding their expansion plans. While nothing is imminent, the prospects of bringing a WNBA team back to Detroit is intriguing and we have interest should they open another round of expansion. We will continue to engage in conversation with the WNBA going forward,” said team spokesman Kevin Grigg.

The Shock won WNBA titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008 under head coach Bill Laimbeer, led by star player Swin Cash.

Laimbeer stepped down as coach in 2009, with fellow Pistons bad boy Rick Mahorn taking over the team, making it to the conference finals in their last season in Detroit.

The franchise that moved the Tulsa eventually moved to Dallas, and is now known as the Dallas Wings.


About the Author
Ken Haddad headshot

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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