Eminem’s In 🎤🏀
I hate to admit it, but Detroit makes a strong case for a WNBA return…
Eminem joining forces with the Detroit bid team for a WNBA franchise should come as a surprise to exactly no one. The man lives for this city. He’s been spotted at Lions games more times than I’ve been to the gym this year (which, really, isn’t saying much). So, yeah, of course, he’s part of the group trying to bring a WNBA team back to the Motor City.
According to Sportico, he’s now part of a group led by Pistons owner Tom Gores, with some other big time Detroit figures, like Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp, Chris Webber, Grant Hill, and Jared Goff.
EXCLUSIVE: @Eminem is Joining Detroit’s @WNBA Expansion Bid Group.
The Detroit group, which includes owners of the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons, is one of about a dozen vying for a WNBA team in this round of expansion.
Read more: https://t.co/6ecxCLS9O7 pic.twitter.com/Yo2nl4qQlQ
— Sportico (@Sportico) March 12, 2025
It makes sense. The WNBA is in the middle of expansion talks, and with the league planning to add at least one (potentially up to three) more franchise, Detroit is throwing its name in the ring. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has even gone on record saying Detroit “needs” a WNBA team. (Sir, did you mean Nashville? No? Okay.)
And they’re not the only ones. Right now, the list of cities begging for a team includes Nashville (justice for me), Philly, Houston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Austin.
Is Detroit Getting a Team?
I hate to admit it, but Detroit makes a strong case for a WNBA return. The city had the Detroit Shock from 1998 to 2009, and in case anyone forgot, that team won three championships. The franchise later moved to Tulsa, then rebranded as the Dallas Wings.
From @sportico: Rapper Eminem is part of the effort to bring a WNBA expansion team to Detroit, joining a bid group led by Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons
The WNBA is now expanding rapidly after not adding any new teams between 2008 and 2024 pic.twitter.com/83RjMIheTN
— Lev Akabas (@LevAkabas) March 12, 2025
If Detroit gets back in, the team will play at Little Caesars Arena, which already hosts the Pistons and Red Wings. So, yeah, they have the infrastructure.
That said, I’m personally devastated. Every new expansion announcement in WNBA news gives me a sliver of hope that WNBA games will soon be coming to Nashville. But now, with Eminem’s weight behind Detroit’s bid, it feels like that hope is slipping. There’s no official announcement yet, but if Detroit gets the nod, I will be entering my grieving era. I also will be putting a personal embargo on all Eminem songs until further notice.
The return of the Detroit Shock? ⚡️
Eminem is looking to help bring a WNBA team back to Detroit. 👀 pic.twitter.com/auNXknAzBe
— theScore (@theScore) March 12, 2025
WNBA Odds and What It Means for the League
The WNBA’s expansion won’t change anything for this season, but if a new team gets added, it could eventually mess with the odds. Until then, here’s where things stand for the 2025 WNBA championship—because that’s all we’ve got to work with for now.
- New York Liberty: +225
- Las Vegas Aces: +280
- Minnesota Lynx: +400
- Indiana Fever: +380
- Phoenix Mercury: +1200
Detroit’s potential return could bring some fresh competition to the league, but until then, my focus is on the current WNBA schedule. And on manifesting a Nashville expansion team before Eminem wins this one.
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