Detroit is closing in on the return of professional women’s basketball, with league leaders reportedly on the verge of giving formal approval to a new WNBA franchise as soon as this week. The still-unnamed team is slated to start play in 2029, and local backers are already sketching out a riverfront practice facility and youth academy as part of the franchise buildout.
A report by Crain's Detroit Business says the WNBA and NBA governors are expected to vote this week to finalize the expansion approval. Both league leadership and NBA owners would need to sign off for the award to become official, a step that would push Detroit closer to its planned 2029 launch.
Where the Team Would Fit in the League
The league first announced plans to add Detroit as one of three expansion franchises last summer, and the city’s team is scheduled to tip off in 2029, according to The Associated Press. The AP also reported that each expansion franchise paid a roughly $250 million fee and that the Detroit team is expected to play home games at Little Caesars Arena under a Pistons-led ownership group.
Plans for a Riverside Practice Hub
Backers are pitching a riverfront practice facility and headquarters on the long-vacant Uniroyal Tire site, and public filings show the developer is seeking brownfield tax-increment financing to cover cleanup costs, according to City of Detroit brownfield filings and reporting by Axios Detroit. Documents name W-Detroit Property LLC, an affiliate tied to the Pistons’ ownership group, as the developer and outline plans for a team headquarters, practice complex and youth sports academy.
What Comes Next
If governors sign off this week, the league will move to formalize the expansion and the new club will begin roster construction and operations ahead of a 2029 debut, as reported by The Associated Press. Local approvals for brownfield aid and other incentives still require public meetings, and those civic reviews will help determine the timetable for cleanup and construction.
Supporters say the team could bring jobs and renewed attention to downtown and the riverfront, while some residents and watchdogs are expected to scrutinize subsidy requests and community-benefit commitments closely.
