Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group will own and operate the new franchise.
It’s official: the WNBA is coming to The Land.
Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group and the City of Cleveland have officially been awarded the 16th franchise in the WNBA according to an official press release. The name of the team has not been announced, but it has been rumored that it will be the previous name of Cleveland’s WNBA team, the Rockers. Tentatively, the new team will begin play for the 2028 WNBA season.
As part of the announcement, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that, in addition to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia will also be receiving organizations over the next several years. This adds to the recent expansion of the WNBA that includes Golden State, Toronto, and Portland.
“The WNBA’s return to Cleveland marks a pivotal moment for women’s sports,” said Rock Entertainment Group Dan Gilbert. “We are grateful to the WNBA and Commissioner Engelbert for this opportunity and their unwavering believe in Cleveland.”
The Rockers were disbanded in 2003 after failing to meet financial expectations, but the recent explosion in popularity of the WNBA has made running a team more tenable. Cleveland submitted an enormous league-record $250 million bid, far-surpassing those submitted for Golden State ($50 million), Toronto ($115 million), and Portland ($125 million).
The official release also stated that the new Cleveland WNBA team will play their games at Rocket Arena and practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts. The Cavs will eventually be moving to their new practice center in downtown Cleveland, at the Cleveland Clinic Peak Performance Center.