Free read, Jan. 27-31: WNBA’s Detroit return gets real, Peters leaving Senate
A group of investors led by Pistons owner Tom Gores is making a bid to bring back the Detroit Shock.
Howdy, folks.
I capped off another busy week of Detroit one million by catching up with the Detroit Free Press’ Pistons writer Omari Sankofa to unpack the news of the WNBA’s potential return.
Detroit is missing out on Caitlin Clark and the WNBA explosion — it’s been more than 15 years since the Detroit Shock departed Auburn Hills.
But that could soon change.
Yahoo Sports broke the news Thursday evening Pistons owner Tom Gores and a group of business, civic and entertainment leaders put in a bid to land a WNBA expansion team.
The franchise won three championships (2003, 2006, 2008) with Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer as head coach before Karen Davidson, the widow of former Pistons owner Bill Davidson, sold the team. It moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, under new ownership in 2009 and became the Dallas Wings in 2016.
“I knew for a while there was something in the works to bring a team here,” Sankofa told me over the phone Friday. “Not until recently did I learn it had gotten to the point where there are over 20 investors.”
The group of investors includes Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem and his wife; Lions principal owner Sheila Hamp and her husband; former Pistons star Grant Hill and his wife, recording artist Tamia; former Fab Five standout and NBA star Chris Webber; Lions quarterback Jared Goff and his wife, Christen; General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra and her husband.
“There’s no timeline, this just gets the ball rolling. You have all these people from finance, business and civic sectors coming together to make clear it’s all hands on deck to make this happen,” Sankofa said.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been open about plans to expand the league from 12 to 16 teams by 2028, when the investor group says play could begin if their bid is accepted.
CNBC reports the group has filed for a trademark for the previous "Detroit Shock" name.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, "a lifelong fan ... and a below-average high school guard myself," said in a statement that her administration fully supports the bid and "stands ready to support this franchise's success."
"Michiganders are fired up," Whitmer said. "Our passion for our teams and players is unmatched, our commitment to our communities remains unwavering, and our vision for women's sports is crystal clear. My administration stands ready to support this franchise's success."
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan also pledged his support for the bid: "Having a WNBA franchise in Detroit not only would add to the growing list of professional sports teams playing in the city, it also would bring a state-of-the-art practice facility and support the creation of a youth sports academy for Detroit's young people and their families."
It’s an exciting time for Pistons fans. The team (23-24) is finally playing competitive basketball for the first time in years, and finally has an All-Star in Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham was selected as a reserve this week, telling Sankofa this afternoon “lots of wins, losses, lessons have led up to this point.”
It’s been the most successful season since Sankofa, a graduate of Renaissance High School, began covering the team in 2020.
“It’s not even close,” Sankofa said. “The Pistons are doing exciting things that people actually want to talk about. I always tell people last year was like a dark comedy, like an episode of The Office or something. You were cringing, it was awkward, but it's also like, kind of funny. I like my job, it doesn't matter how the team's doing, but winning gives people more to talk about.”
Here’s what else I was paying attention to this week:
Gary Peters won’t seek reelection, leaving open Senate seat
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township told Melissa Nann Burke Tuesday he would be leaving his seat up for grabs in 2026.
As gubernatorial candidates are off and running ahead of the November 2026 election, Peters leaving his U.S. Senate seat open means candidates for the seat will also be making formal announcements throughout 2025.
President Donald Trump won Michigan in 2024, but Democrat Elissa Slotkin defeated Mike Rogers during the Senate race last year. Slotkin continued Democrats’ 30 year win streak in Michigan Senate races defeating Rogers last November. Spencer Abraham was the last Michigan Republican elected to the U.S. Senate in 1995.
Potential Democratic replacements include Pete Buttigieg, Dana Nessel, U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten and Haley Stevens, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.
McMorrow told me at the annual state of transit event Tuesday she’s figuring out what’s next.
Politico reported Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who still seems interested in becoming a presidential candidate for 2028, won’t run for the Senate seat, according to her pack.
Former NFL coach Tony Dungy, a Republican from Jackson, ended speculation he would run for the position in a social media post, saying he lives in Florida.
Ranked choice voting group plans ballot proposal
A grassroots group of ranked choice voting advocates are holding town halls and policy summits to educate Michiganders about the alternative voting method, Simon Schuster reports.
The group aims to implement ranked choice voting in Michigan's federal and statewide elections for governor, attorney general, secretary of state and the state legislature.
Ranked choice voting is an election method in which voters rank candidates for an office in order of their preference. Voters in five states rejected similar proposals last year, and five other states banned the practice, though residents in Washington, DC, approved it.
But advocates say it would reduce polarization, increase turnout, and produce candidates and winners that better reflect voters’ views.
For a better understanding of Ranked Choice Voting, click here and scroll to ‘How it works’
T-shirts are coming!
Detroit one million’s first wearable product, the billboard tee, will go live on this website next month. Founding members, if you would like a t-shirt mailed to you, please email me your address at samueljrobinson@icloud.com.
The shirts are made in Detroit.
Stay tuned!
Ranked Choice Voting is a great idea for a more engaged, more aware voting population than we currently have. Good luck to them, but iono if I'd actually want it.
Fascinating news roundup.
1. Curious why Gary Peters is retiring at age 68 and just two terms.
2. Incredible to think that Mary Barra + Sheila Ford Hamp may be part of a WNBA investor team.