Tulsa Shock Relocation to Arlington Approved: Latest Details and Reaction

The Tulsa Shock are heading a bit further south, as the WNBA approved the team's relocation to Arlington, Texas, starting in the 2016 season.

Lindsey Adler of BuzzFeed shared the league's press release on Twitter:

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WNBA approves Tulsa Shock relocation to Arlington, TX pic.twitter.com/zYZxsxeLQH

— Lindsey Adler (@Lahlahlindsey) July 23, 2015"

It will be the franchise's second relocation since 1998. The team started out as the Detroit Shock and won three WNBA titles while reaching the postseason in seven straight seasons from 2003-09. Things have been more difficult since 2010, when the team moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the Shock have missed out on the postseason in the past five campaigns. 

The Shock will be bringing a collection of young talent to Arlington, however, led by Skylar Diggins, Riquna Williams and Odyssey Sims, while center Courtney Paris is only 27.

The move makes sense for both the organization and the league. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is one of the largest media market in the country and will offer both the team and the WNBA even more exposure, especially in an important market for the sport. 

“I think it’s going to be absolutely phenomenal,” Hall of Famer and former Shock coach Nancy Lieberman told Eddie Sefko of DallasNews.com. “This is big news and I hope the city gives it so much support."

Both the Shock and the WNBA seem confident that the support will indeed be there for Arlington's newest team.