Online challenges are issued for people to make statements reflective of something they did without specifying the activity. Here’s my statement: I remember when the WNBA had 16 teams.
That is my reply if someone challenges me to reflect on how long I have covered the WNBA. That number was short-lived, with several teams becoming quick casualties of the WNBA ownership model changing in 2002 from all NBA teams collectively owning WNBA franchises to an individual ownership model. Among those teams that met their demise was the Portland Fire, where Jackie Stiles played one outstanding season, beating Lauren Jackson for Rookie of the Year, before injury ended her career.
In 2026, a WNBA franchise will again call Portland, Oregon home. We’re still waiting for the name. Also coming into the W fold next year is the Toronto Tempo. That will bring the number of teams to 15. After 15 years with 12 teams, this sounds like an unbelievable bounty for fans of women’s basketball.
Fueled by the incredible first season success of the Golden State Valkyries, not to mention unprecedented season ticket sales around the league, the thirst for women’s hoops is surging.
“The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert at last week’s big announcement.
Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. What catches my attention is that Cleveland and Detroit once had WNBA teams only to end them.
The end of the Detroit Shock after the 2009 season, just one year after its third WNBA championship, remains especially heartbreaking. Business is business, but it still boggles my mind that not only did Detroit Pistons ownership not see the Shock as an asset, but neither did any other entity in the area. Please note, we cannot blame Tom Gores, the person behind Detroit’s return, because he didn’t take ownership of the Pistons until 2011.
The Detroit Shock became the Tulsa Shock, which then became the Dallas Wings, so technically that franchise still exists. Can the Shock name be revived? In this current era of profound excitement around women’s basketball, can we honor the past on which this current success is built while also looking to the future? Time will tell. Until then, it seems fitting that Detroit will simmer with summer basketball heat 20 years after it bid it adieu. Jump ball!