Detroit Lions lineman Dan Skipper didn’t hold back after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham questioned the appeal of the Motor City for WNBA expansion.
Cunningham stirred controversy during media comments when she suggested that cities like Miami, Nashville, and Kansas City were more exciting options for WNBA teams than Detroit or Cleveland.
“You want to listen to your players too,” Cunningham said. “Where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans?… But man, I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or Cleveland.”
Dan Skipper Comes to Detroit’s Defense
The comment didn’t sit well with Skipper, a gritty fan-favorite on the Lions’ offensive line, who quickly took to social media to defend his city.
“Have you ever been there? Pretty good place to play, well, not for you now,” Skipper posted on X (formerly Twitter).
His clapback went viral, with Detroit fans rallying behind his defense of the city and its growing sports culture.
Read More: WNBA: Best Players Across the Board in 2025
WNBA Expansion Is Official in Detroit
The WNBA officially announced that Detroit will be getting an expansion team in 2029, part of a major league-wide growth push that includes teams in Toronto (2026), Portland (2026), Cleveland (2028), and Philadelphia (2030) — bringing the total to 18 franchises by the end of the decade.
Chris Ilitch, owner of the Red Wings and Tigers, celebrated the announcement:
“Bringing a WNBA team to Detroit is a huge win… Momentum and interest surrounding women’s sports has never been stronger.”
With Little Caesars Arena set to host the team, Detroit is positioning itself as a future hub for women’s basketball, whether Cunningham is on board or not.
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