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The Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers are both looking to bring the WNBA to their respective cities.
The Pistons announced Friday that team governor Tom Gores submitted an official bid Thursday on behalf of an ownership group attempting to add a team to Detroit.
What’s more, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reported ownership from the 76ers also placed an official bid for a WNBA expansion team after holding a press conference weeks ago with team governor Josh Harris and others announcing an intent to do so.
Detroit’s bid features an ownership group that includes Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and legendary NBA players Grant Hill and Chris Webber. Webber is from Detroit, while Hill suited up for the Pistons during his NBA career.
“This is an exciting opportunity to welcome the WNBA back to Detroit and bring additional investment and economic activity into the city,” Gores said. “For the WNBA this is home, and our bid represents an unprecedented opportunity for the league to come full circle and effect a long-hoped-for Detroit homecoming. No city is more prepared to embrace the team as a community asset that drives unity and common ground.”
The bid would include constructing a new WNBA practice facility and team headquarters, while games would be played at Little Caesars Arena. Little Caesars Arena is the home of the Pistons and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit is no stranger to the WNBA, as the Shock were one of the first expansion teams in the league and played from 1998 to 2009. They won three championships before becoming the Tulsa Shock starting with the 2010 season and the current Dallas Wings starting with the 2016 campaign.
As for the 76ers’ bid, Philadelphia insider Nick Kariuki reported earlier this month that Comcast was joining as a minority stakeholder.
Kariuki noted Philadelphia’s bid “has been in the works since 2021” and has also been “spearheaded by comedian Wanda Sykes and her wife Alex Niedbalski-Sykes.”
Both cities are attempting to land the WNBA’s 16th franchise during a time of rapid expansion and growth.
The Golden State Valkyries will be the league’s 13th team when they start play this year, while the Toronto Tempo will be the 14th starting in the 2026 season. The 15th team will also start in 2026 as a yet-to-be-named club in Portland.
Bill Bradley of the Detroit Free Press noted a number of ownership groups are attempting to become the 16th franchise.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, a Nashville group that includes Candace Parker and Peyton Manning, an Austin group that includes Kevin Durant, a Kansas City group that includes Patrick Mahomes, a St. Louis group that includes Jayson Tatum, and a Houston group that includes Rockets governor Tilman Fertitta have all been seen as possibilities at one time or another.
