Detroit — From representing an era defined by teal jerseys, Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill has fond memories of his five-year tenure with the Detroit Pistons. Outside of the dunks and game-winning plays that made him one of the best players in franchise history, scrimmaging against the Detroit Shock during his off-season training in the late 1990s is one of Hill’s best memories.

Nearly thirty years later, memories of playing against the Shock have led to Hill and his wife Tamia being among several promising equity investors hoping to bring the WNBA back to Detroit. In January, an investment group led by Pistons owner Tom Gores formally announced an expansion bid for a WNBA franchise.

“I think the momentum and movement in women’s sports overall, the time is now,” Hill said during the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference on Wednesday afternoon. “The WNBA is on this incredible growth trajectory. For me, to do it in Detroit and to come back to a city where it all started, there is a passion and a sense of pride for all things Detroit, particularly their sports teams.”

The idea of bringing the WNBA back to Detroit began nearly 10 years ago when Gores sought out Pistons’ vice chairman Arn Tellem as someone who could help him use the Pistons to make a significant impact on the community.

This idea began to take shape once the WNBA announced plans to expand the league to 16 teams by 2028. Reports indicate that Houston, Nashville, and Philadelphia have all submitted bids to bring a franchise to their respective markets. However, Detroit has heard “positive things” from the league office.

“I would not be sitting here today if I wasn’t optimistic,” Tellem said. “Keep your fingers crossed. Hope to hear good news here very soon.”

Tellem revealed that the WNBA has been impressed by its diverse ownership group, which includes Sheila Hamp and General Motors CEO Mary Barra. Other investors include NBA Hall of Famer and Detroit native Chris Webber, Jared Goff and his wife, Christen, Roger and Carin Ehrenberg, Ethan and Gretchen Davidson, Denise Ilitch, KC and Ashley Crain, and Larry Brinker Jr.

“I wanted to send the statement to the NBA and the WNBA about the power of Detroit, the greatest strength of Detroit is its people,” Tellem said. “We wanted to show the collaborative spirit and its pride. We have a tremendous group, and I am really excited about it. I think, when you go back to our chances, Adam (Silver) and the WNBA have all said that we have blown them away with our ownership group. They were so impressed.”

Detroit’s chances of landing a WNBA franchise have received an additional boost when it comes to meeting the league’s requirement to provide a preeminent facility to its players and staff. In addition to putting together a plan to meet the league’s amenities, the facility would also operate as a youth sports complex.

“It’s going to serve all the kids of Detroit,” Tellem said. “The idea is to promote youth sports and to break down barriers to access. To give every child in Detroit (the opportunity) to play and compete, no matter their zip code.”

Tellem confirmed that the production site along the Detroit riverfront, just west of the MacArthur Bridge leading to Belle Isle, will serve as the WNBA practice facility and multipurpose complex.

“In the youth academy, to have five or six high school-level basketball courts, each of which can be converted into volleyball courts,” Tellem said. “To have NBA-level locker rooms and weight training facilities. Sheila had the idea of adding playing fields for soccer and flag football. I think it will be a great academy. The whole community and city would love it.”

The Shock was one of the first expansion teams of the WNBA in 1998. Headlined by basketball Hall of Famer Swin Cash, the franchise existed in Detroit for 12 years, during which the Shock captured three WNBA titles. During Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals against the Los Angeles Sparks, Detroit set a single-game attendance record with 22,076 fans. 

“When you see over 21,000 packing out The Palace of Auburn Hills, which still holds the record today, we always knew what the WNBA could be,” Cash said. “My fondest memory is watching where the league is and understanding how many women that played in Detroit, to have another opportunity to cheer on a team that you all could bring back to the city.”

At the start of the 2025 season, the WNBA welcomed its 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, who are currently 2-2 in their inaugural year. With the additions of Portland and Toronto, the league will expand to 15 teams next year.

“To see what Swin and her team did, to bring that magic back to the city, is something that is really exciting,” Hill said. “It’s a great time to invest in women’s sports, and there could not be a better place than Detroit.”

Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.