Detroit and Nashville Submit Bids for WNBA’s 16th Expansion Team

Detroit seeks to revive the Shock legacy, while Nashville proposes a new team honoring Pat Summitt.

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores leads a bid to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit, with support from prominent local figures, including Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and former NBA star Grant Hill.
The bid includes plans for the team to play at Little Caesars Arena and proposes a new practice facility and headquarters for the franchise.
The WNBA filed a trademark for the name 'Detroit Shock,' a nod to the city’s former WNBA team, which won three championships before relocating in 2009.
Nashville’s bid, spearheaded by former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, proposes a team named the Tennessee Summitt in honor of legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt.
The Nashville ownership group includes WNBA star Candace Parker, NFL Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning, and country music icons Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, with plans for the team to play at Bridgestone Arena starting in 2028.