Eminem has joined an effort to bring a WNBA expansion team to Detroit, Sportico reports.
The rapper is part of a group that reportedly includes several other Detroit heavyweights. Beyond Eminem, though, the only specifics are that the group is led by Tom Gores, billionaire owner of the Detroit Pistons, while the owners of the city’s other major teams — the Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings — are also involved.
A rep for Eminem did not immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for comment.
Detroit is one of several cities vying for a WNBA franchise as the league seeks to expand amid a surge in popularity. While the league first planned to add one new team, recent reports suggest up to three cities could be chosen. The league currently comprises 13 teams, with that number already slated to rise in the coming years with confirmed expansion teams headed to San Francisco, Toronto, and Portland.
Eminem’s reported involvement in the possible Detroit WNBA franchise is hardly a surprise, as the rapper, who grew up in the city, remains a dedicated supporter of its many teams. He is, of course, a devoted, yet long-suffering Lions fan, and he helped the Tigers launch a special run of MLB jerseys last year. Back in 2017, when the Pistons returned to Detroit proper after several years playing at an arena in the suburbs, Eminem was on-hand to hype up the crowd on opening night.
Outside his sports fandom, Eminem released his most recent album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), last year, marking his first full-length since 2020’s Music to Be Murdered By. The album helped Eminem secure three Grammy nominations, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video for “Houdini.”
As for what’s coming this year, Adam Sandler recently confirmed that Eminem would have a “funny as hell” cameo in Happy Gilmore 2, which arrives in July. “I’ve known Eminem for a long time, he’s a great guy and he came in and was funny as hell,” Sandler said on The Dan Patrick Show. “I think we just hung out a day with Eminem, and he just shot and shot, and he was insane. He said a million things we can use and a million that we’re glad we have him on tape.”
