By Sunday 
While most NFL quarterbacks spend their offseason golfing or dodging podcast takes, Jared Goff decided to do something a little more… franchise-changing.
No, not for the Lions (yet).
For the entire city of Detroit.
In a surprise power play off the gridiron, Goff just helped bring the WNBA back to the Motor City—and yes, Eminem is involved too, because Detroit doesn’t do anything halfway.
Welcome Back, WNBA—Detroit Missed You
For those who didn’t grow up yelling “GO SHOCK!” in the early 2000s, let’s rewind: Detroit used to have a WNBA team. A good one, in fact. The Detroit Shock brought home three championships before relocating to Tulsa in 2010, then eventually morphing into the Dallas Wings. Since then, the city’s women’s basketball scene has been a ghost town.
Not anymore.
The WNBA just announced that a new expansion team is headed to Detroit for the 2029 season, and Goff is smack in the middle of it all. Along with Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, Lions team owner Sheila Hamp, and an all-star cast of investors including Chris Webber, Grant Hill, GM CEO Mary Barra, and yes, Marshall freaking Mathers, Detroit is officially getting its team back.
Goff: From Franchise QB to Civic MVP
It’s one thing to sign a long-term deal and say you love the city. It’s another thing entirely to invest in its sports infrastructure, its youth, and its legacy.
“This is a huge win for Detroit and the WNBA,” Gores said. “We’re proud to reignite that legacy as the WNBA ascends to new heights.”
This isn’t just a vanity project. The team will come with a brand-new headquarters and training facility on Detroit’s riverfront, replacing the old Uniroyal site. The city gets jobs, visibility, and a reinvigorated stake in the fastest-growing league in pro sports.
A League on the Rise, with Detroit Back in the Mix
Detroit won’t be the only city getting a new WNBA team. Cleveland (2028), Philadelphia (2030), Portland, and Toronto (both 2026) are all part of the league’s bold expansion plan. But there’s something special about Detroit’s return. This isn’t just an add-on. It’s a resurgence—and a reminder that Detroit belongs in every pro sports conversation.
And you’ve got to love the Lions’ QB being right at the heart of it.
Touchdowns, Assists, and a Legacy
Jared Goff could’ve just coasted this offseason. Instead, he made a play that goes beyond football.
By helping bring pro women’s basketball back to Detroit, Goff is proving that leadership in this city doesn’t stop at the tunnel.
Next step?
Maybe a few courtside Lions sightings. And if Dan Campbell shows up in a Shock jersey? We riot (lovingly).