Detroit is one of three expansion cities for the WNBA. The expansion will bring the league to 15 teams. Detroit's team is expected to begin play in 2029 under the majority ownership of Pistons owner Tom Gore. Minority owners include former Pistons Chris Webber and Grant Hill, and Detroit Lions player Jared Goff.

The announcement sets forth the WNBA’s return to Detroit. The Detroit Shock were one of the first expansion teams in the WNBA, established in 1996. From 1998 to 2009 the Shock won three titles and were No. 1 in attendance for three straight seasons.

Despite its success in metro Detroit, the team was losing money and in October 2009 it was announced that the Shock would move to Tulsa, Okla., under new ownership. Longtime Pistons owner Bill Davidson also owned the Shock and his widow, Karen Davidson, sold the team after her husband died in March 2009.