Detroit is officially back in the WNBA game — and it’s getting a little help from Slim Shady.
On June 30, the WNBA announced that Detroit will receive a brand-new expansion team, set to tip off in the 2029 season. Among the high-profile investors behind the move? None other than Eminem, adding sports ownership to his growing list of ways he gives back to the Motor City.
The new team marks a powerful return for women’s professional basketball to a city rich in hoops history — and it’s happening thanks to a star-studded ownership group led by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, who reportedly paid a $250 million expansion fee.
The Star-Powered Ownership Team
Alongside Eminem, the ownership group includes:
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Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff
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NBA legends Grant Hill and Chris Webber
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Lions principal owner Sheila Hamp
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GM CEO Mary Barra
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Plus other key local and national stakeholders
Gores released a statement celebrating the announcement, calling it “the long-hoped-for return of the WNBA to a city with deep basketball roots and a championship tradition.”
What’s Next: Arena, Facilities, and a Bigger Vision
The team will call Little Caesars Arena home, and plans are underway for a brand-new headquarters and practice facility to be built at the former Uniroyal site on the Detroit riverfront. The space will also serve as a multi-sport youth complex, offering basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer opportunities to the community.
While the name of the new team hasn’t been confirmed, fans are already buzzing about the possibility of reviving the “Detroit Shock” brand — the city’s former WNBA team that won three championships before relocating to Dallas in 2009.
A Historic Return at the Perfect Time
The WNBA is experiencing unprecedented momentum, with record-breaking viewership, merchandise sales, and national exposure. The league is expected to grow to 18 teams by 2030, and Detroit is now officially a part of that vision.
For Eminem, this move isn’t just a business decision — it’s a continuation of his long-running support for Detroit’s sports, culture, and community development. A frequent courtside face at Pistons and Lions games, the rapper is now stepping into a new role: sports stakeholder and city ambassador.