Another city has entered the mix for a WNBA expansion bid: Cleveland, which was previously home to the Cleveland Rockers from 1997 to 2003. Rock Entertainment Group, the ownership group tied to the Cleveland Cavaliers, is spearheading the bid, and an official WNBA Cleveland website is already public.
“Cleveland’s vibrant ecosystem of world-class assets, passionate and engaged sports fans, coupled with a culture that has allowed professional sports to thrive, make our Team and city uniquely positioned to provide an ideal home for the W’s next franchise,” said Nic Barlage of Rocket Entertainment Group in a statement Wednesday.
Three expansion teams are set to join the WNBA in the coming years: the Golden State Valkyries are slated to compete in the WNBA in 2025, while Toronto and Portland will have teams in 2026. The plan is for a 16th expansion city to join them.
“The good news is we have a lot of demand from many cities,” said WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert last month. “I think the more people are watching the WNBA and seeing what we’re growing here and seeing these players and the product on the court, more people are interested in having it in their cities.”
Several other cities are currently in the mix. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wants to see a team in Kansas City, Celtics star Jayson Tatum is reportedly vying for a team in his hometown of St. Louis, and Hornets forward Grant Williams has expressed interest in being involved with a team in Charlotte. Philadelphia and Austin are also in the mix. There have also been discussions surrounding new teams in Dallas, Milwaukee, Nashville, and Denver.
The 16th expansion franchise will likely be worth between $200 and $250 million, per the Sports Business Journal.
Last month, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell expressed his desire for the city to get their own franchise, stating that he would love to be part of the city’s efforts. Cleveland is already home to the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, among other teams.
“I think Cleveland definitely deserves a WNBA team,” Mitchell said, per Cleveland.com. “It’s big time for Portland and San Francisco to add one. But Cleveland is a perfect sports city for it. The WNBA is at an all-time high and I love the competition. Been this way for a while and I think people are now starting to finally pay attention.”
