Detroit’s WNBA team is real, and its first home is locked in. City Council greenlit a $50 million practice facility and headquarters on the former Uniroyal site at 6000 East Jefferson in late 2025. Construction starts in 2027. The doors open by early 2029, in time for the team’s first season. So the WNBA is coming back to Detroit. And it is dragging one of the city’s most stubborn vacant sites back to life along the way.
This is two comeback stories in one, and both belong to the east riverfront. Here is what got approved, what gets built, and what we still do not know. For the city’s full development picture, see our Detroit projects to watch in 2026.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| What | Practice facility and headquarters for Detroit’s incoming WNBA team |
| Where | 7.4 acres of the 42-acre former Uniroyal site, 6000 East Jefferson, east riverfront |
| Cost | About $50 million |
| Inside | Two full-size courts, locker rooms, strength and conditioning, team offices |
| Phase two | A youth development academy with outdoor fields for regional tournaments |
| Timeline | Construction in 2027; completion by early 2029 for the team’s first season |
| Who | An ownership group formed by the Detroit Pistons organization |
| Status | Council approved (November 2025); $40.6M brownfield incentive funds cleanup; construction starts 2027 |
What Has City Council Approved?
In November 2025, Council signed off on the land agreement and the site plan. It also approved a brownfield tax capture incentive worth $40.6 million over 30 years. That money funds the environmental cleanup and the site prep. Notably, the votes were unanimous. That tells you how badly the city wants both things here: women’s pro basketball, and a use for that land.
The developer comes straight from the Pistons-formed ownership group bringing the franchise here. In exchange, it takes on one of the most complicated parcels in the city. Read the civic details in BridgeDetroit’s council coverage.
What Actually Gets Built?
First, phase one is the team’s daily home. It sits on 7.4 acres at the southwest corner of the site. Inside are two full-size courts, locker rooms, strength and conditioning spaces, and team offices. This is where the franchise lives Monday through Saturday. Meanwhile, game nights happen downtown.
Phase two, by contrast, serves the neighborhood. It is a youth development academy with outdoor athletic fields big enough for regional tournaments. A pro team’s front door that doubles as a kids’ sports campus on the riverfront? No other WNBA market has done it quite this way.
Why the Uniroyal Site Matters
You have probably passed it on the RiverWalk, heading east toward the Belle Isle bridge. In fact, it is 42 empty acres where the Uniroyal tire plant once stood. The land sat vacant for roughly four decades while nearly everything around it came back. Crain’s called this project the site’s last, best hope, and that is not hype. After all, the contamination made every earlier plan collapse.
So the WNBA facility is the icebreaker. It claims 7.4 acres. In turn, it forces the cleanup conversation for the rest. And it puts daily life on a stretch of riverfront that links Belle Isle to the Joe Louis Greenway. Whatever rises on the other 34 acres starts here.
The WNBA Is Not New Here, and That Is the Point
Detroit is not getting a WNBA team. It is getting one back. The Detroit Shock won three championships, in 2003, 2006, and 2008. They led the league in attendance, too, before leaving for Tulsa after 2009. This city already fills seats for women’s basketball at a championship level.
The new franchise begins play in 2029, and an ownership group from the Pistons stands behind it. So between the Shock banners and a brand-new riverfront headquarters, the pitch to free agents writes itself.
Why the Team Still Has No Name
The obvious choice is the Shock, and the team has said plainly that it is on the table. Richard Haddad, chief operating officer and chief legal officer for Pistons Sports and Entertainment, told Detroit City Council that the name has not been determined, that the group is exploring multiple options including the Detroit Shock, and that they are open to suggestions.
There is a complication, though, and it is not sentiment. The Detroit Shock trademark does not belong to the WNBA. It is held by Women’s Basketball League Inc., owned by Detroit native Ryan Reed. The league has filed its own application for the name, and Reed has reportedly been in contact with the WNBA about relinquishing the rights.
In other words, the holdup is paperwork rather than preference. The USPTO refused the league’s own application in February 2026, and until that clears, the franchise cannot commit to the name most fans already use for it. We broke down the full paper trail in why the WNBA cannot use the Detroit Shock name.
What We Still Do Not Know
Be honest about the open questions. The team has not announced a name or branding, and the Shock trademark question above is part of the reason. The game arena arrangements are not final either. And rosters are years away. Still, we will update this page as each answer lands. For everything else this summer, browse our 100 Things To Do in Detroit guide.
Detroit WNBA Team FAQ
Does Detroit have a WNBA team?
Yes. Detroit landed a WNBA expansion franchise that begins play in 2029, and an ownership group from the Detroit Pistons is behind it. It marks the league’s return to the city, where the Shock won three titles before leaving in 2009.
Where will the Detroit WNBA team practice?
The team’s $50 million practice facility and headquarters will sit on 7.4 acres of the former Uniroyal site at 6000 East Jefferson, on Detroit’s east riverfront. It includes two full-size courts, locker rooms, and training spaces.
When will the Detroit WNBA facility be built?
Construction should begin in 2027. The facility should open by early 2029, in time for the team’s first WNBA season.
What is the Uniroyal site?
The Uniroyal site is a 42-acre former tire factory at 6000 East Jefferson, near the Belle Isle bridge. It sat vacant and contaminated for roughly four decades. The WNBA project redevelops its southwest corner, with brownfield incentives supporting the cleanup.
What is the team’s name?
The team has not announced a name or branding yet. Still, many fans hope for a nod to the Detroit Shock, the city’s three-time champion WNBA team from 1998 to 2009.
Banners Coming Back to the Riverfront
A championship city gets its league back. Meanwhile, a 40-year-vacant riverfront site gets a future. Both wins landed in one plan. The Detroit WNBA team’s story runs through 2029, and this page will follow every step. What should they be named? Tell us in the comments, and follow @rawdetroit for every update.
Updated July 13, 2026. Project details come from city approvals and reporting; timeline, design, and team details can change and this page will track them.