With how popular the WNBA has gotten over the last year, everyone wants a piece of the pie! The 2024 draft class included heavy-hitters like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink. These players were coming with exceptional collegiate accolades and fame, and they brought it all to the W. Because of the boom in popularity, the Cathy Engelbert-run league has been focusing on expansion. Three teams have been added so far, with the Golden State Valkyries all set to make their debut this season.
In a surprising turn of events, Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores has put in his own bid for the WNBA expansion! The local billionaire aims to bring in another team to Detroit and he knows he will end up profiting from the WNBA greatly.
But, the next team is going to be an expensive one! Bids for the expansion project have the potential to reach between $200 to $250 million according to sources. Gores has thrown his hat in the ring and looks willing to tough out the storm so that he can have his team. The Detroit Pistons owner is currently going through a rebuild with his NBA team as well, adding as much talent as he can.
Pistons owner Tom Gores has reportedly submitted a bid for a WNBA franchise in Detroit, per @VinceGoodwill. pic.twitter.com/ImmYazPwjF
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 31, 2025
While it is a huge news for a market that enjoys basketball, not everyone agrees. Many followers believe cities like Nashville and New Jersey are a lot more deserving of a team. They are up and coming markets, and there would be little repetition. WNBA legend Candace Parker and her group had a similar line of thinking too, it seems, as they put in their own bid recently and got a franchise set up in Tennessee.
This is a developing story…
The post Potential $250M Incoming for Cathy Engelbert’s WNBA Expansion Effort as Detroit Billionaire Drops Huge Announcement appeared first on EssentiallySports.
