Detroit, MI
2023 position breakdown: Tight ends
LaPorta joined wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) as the only rookies in NFL history to produce a season with at least 85 receptions, 850 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions.
Among all NFL tight ends this season, LaPorta finished first in touchdown catches, fourth in receptions and fifth in receiving yards.
Free agents: Brock Wright (restricted), Shane Zylstra (exclusive rights), Anthony Firkser (unrestricted).
The Lions control Zylstra’s rights and it seems logical he’d be back to compete for a reserve tight end role in 2024.
Wright is a terrific blocker in the run game and is more explosive of a receiver than he gets credit for. He’s had a couple big catches over the last two seasons. His 29-yard reception against Tampa Bay in the Divisional Round of the playoffs set up a key third-quarter touchdown for the Lions.
Not a huge need here, especially if they bring Wright back, but Detroit could opt to bring in a veteran to compete for depth behind LaPorta.
The Paramore frontwoman appears to be mapping out tour dates behind her 2025 solo album, ‘Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.’
Hayley Williams will soon have a date with Detroit.
The Paramore frontwoman’s website was updated Saturday with a list of cities underneath the header, “cu_soon.jpg.”
Detroit was one of 28 cities listed on the itinerary, along with Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Raleigh and Los Angeles, and a handful of South American cities.
Over the course of the last week, Williams, 37, has been slowly rolling out dates on her latest solo tour, which comes on the heels of her 2025 solo album “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.” An earlier round of touring behind the project did not include a Detroit date.
The singer’s last local visit came when Paramore played Little Caesars Arena in June 2023.
agraham@detroitnews.com
What is the PWHL playoff format?
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg breaks down all the rules you need to know for the start of the 2026 PWHL Playoffs.
Sports Seriously
Is a professional women’s hockey team coming to Detroit?
The answer is not fully clear yet, but the buzz for Hockeytown to get a Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team very soon is real.
Denise Ilitch, who’s family owns the Detroit Red Wings, the Tigers and Little Caesars Arena (her brother Christopher Ilitch runs the day-to-day operations), predicted the PWHL was coming to Detroit earlier this year.
“I believe we’ll be getting a team in Detroit soon, which really excites me,” Ilitch said on her “Denise Ilitch Show” podcast on March 31.
Ilitch also serves on the Board of Regents at the University of Michigan and has been a strong advocate for a U-M women’s hockey team in recent years.
Media reports from the New York Times and The Hockey News also indicate that Detroit may be next in line for an expansion team, after the league added two teams last month in Seattle and Vancouver. The league is looking to 2-4 teams by 2026-27.
The PWHL has made tour stops to Detroit four times in the last three years and some of the best women’s hockey players in the nation are from Michigan, including Megan Keller, who was the hero for Team USA women’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
During the 2023-24 season, 13,736 hockey fans set an attendance record at the time for a professional women’s hockey game in the United States.
The PWHL, which celebrated its first season in 2023-24, has gained extra interest since the 2026 Winter Olympics.
If Detroit got a PWHL team, some fans hope that could push the University of Michigan and Michigan State University to eventually add Division I women’s hockey programs.
The league’s last appearance in Detroit on March 28, 2026, featured a 3-1 Montreal Victoire win over the New York Sirens in front of 15,938 fans at Little Caesars Arena.
The Free Press reached out to officials with the city of Detroit, but they did not immediately provide comment.
Free Press reporter Helene St. James contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
Detroit, MI
Where to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic Game 6 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, May 1
The Orlando Magic will try to close out the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their first-round series. The Magic lead the series 3-2 but lost Game 5. Detroit is favored by 3.5 points. The total is set at 209.5 for this Eastern Conference matchup.
How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic
-
Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
-
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Advertisement
Odds
-
Spread: Orlando Magic +3.5
-
Moneyline: Orlando Magic +137 (40.5%) / Detroit Pistons -163 (59.5%)
Series results, schedule (all times Eastern)
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83
Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88
Game 5: Pistons 116, Magic 109
Game 6: Fri., May 1, at Orlando (7 p.m., Amazon)
*Game 7: Sun., May 3, at Detroit (time and network TBD)
*if necessary
-
News17 minutes agoBard College’s president to retire after scrutiny of relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
-
New York2 hours agoShe’s Riding in Five Boro Bike Tour, and She’s Happy to Wear a Helmet
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoHayley Williams says ‘c u soon’ to Detroit, hinting at upcoming tour
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSF’s Union Square showing signs of recovery, though some challenges remain
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoFC Dallas vs New York Red Bulls: Lineup notes 📝
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoMercedes’ Kimi Antonelli continues strong form with Miami Grand Prix Pole
-
Boston, MA3 hours agoWith Jayson Tatum out, Celtics debut brand-new starting lineup in Game 7
-
Denver, CO3 hours ago2026 Denver Supercross Results