Eminem Joins Effort to Bring WNBA Team Back to Detroit

Detroit could soon welcome back a WNBA team, and rap legend Eminem is reportedly playing a key role in the effort.

According to Sportico, the Detroit native has joined a high-profile investment group led by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, which includes NBA icons Chris Webber and Grant Hill.

Detroit previously had a WNBA franchise, the Detroit Shock, which won three championships before relocating to Tulsa in 2009. The team later moved again to Texas and became the Dallas Wings.

Now, a new ownership group is determined to bring women’s professional basketball back to the Motor City.

The bid also boasts support from major Detroit sports stakeholders, including the owners of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, MLB’s Detroit Tigers, and the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

Additional backers include General Motors CEO Mary Barra and her husband, Tony; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and his wife, Christen; and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem and his wife, Nancy, a former Microsoft executive.

“Michiganders are fired up,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in a statement. “Our passion for our teams and players is unmatched, our commitment to our communities remains unwavering, and our vision for women’s sports is crystal clear.”

If successful, the new WNBA team would play home games at Little Caesars Arena, where the Pistons and Red Wings currently compete.

However, Detroit faces stiff competition, as the WNBA is evaluating multiple cities for expansion. Reports indicate that San Francisco, Toronto, and Portland are already in line for new teams, with over ten cities—including Austin, Charlotte, Cleveland, and Philadelphia—submitting bids by the January deadline.

With demand for women’s basketball surging, the league may approve as many as three new franchises.

Whether Detroit makes the final cut remains to be seen, but with Eminem and a powerful ownership group backing the bid, the city’s chances are stronger than ever.