DETROIT – The announcement that the WNBA is returning to Detroit has stirred excitement among sports fans and young athletes alike.
This news took many by surprise and brought a fresh wave of enthusiasm to the city’s basketball community.
On Detroit’s east side, at the Coleman A. Young Community Center, a group of young girls, has been diligently practicing their basketball skills, embodying the hope and promise that the return of the WNBA represents.
Among them are Hope, Faith, and Aryah Jackson, young athletes with dreams of taking their talents to college and beyond.
When asked what they love about the game, the Jackson sisters shared, “Having teammates, working together, and being able to get opportunities.”
The sisters are not just aspiring to be good basketball players; they strive to be great.
The WNBA’s return to Detroit is a source of inspiration for these young athletes.
Aryah expressed her excitement, saying, “It gives us more opportunities and things. Like, we can go and watch more games now, and we don’t have to drive out even farther to go and watch more games.”
Despite high consumer interest in the WNBA, basketball coach Ciera McGaughy acknowledges the challenges in recruiting young girls into the sport.
“It’s a challenge. Where I’ve got to just call them, hey, are you coming to the gym? Like you just have to constantly be consistent,” said McGaughy.
McGaughy believes that the visibility and accessibility of a Detroit WNBA team will have a significant impact on local youth engagement.
She fondly recalls the excitement she felt during the era of Detroit’s previous WNBA team before it relocated in 2010.
“Oh man, I remember going to the games, and my favorite player was Deanna Nolan. And I just wanted to be like her ever since,” she reminisced.
The new Detroit WNBA team is expected to begin playing in 2029.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “As women’s sports enter a brand new era of success, I am proud the City of Detroit is going to be leading the way. Let’s get it, Detroit!”
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan also voiced his excitement, noting, “With the explosive popularity of the WNBA, it’s going to be great. We will have now five professional sports teams downtown. Currently, we are the only city in the country with four teams downtown.”
For young girls interested in basketball, Detroit Parks and Recreation is hosting “Her Time to Play,” a basketball camp for girls ages six to 14 in partnership with the Junior WNBA.
The camp will take place on July 28 and 29, and registration is currently open.