CLEVELAND — This Women’s History Month, professional sports organizations across Ohio are putting the spotlight on women’s sports.

What You Need To Know

The Cleveland Charge held WNBA Night on Friday

WNBA Cleveland President Allison Howard said there are 8,000 season ticket deposits for the team’s initial season in 2028

The team name and branding for Cleveland’s WNBA team will be announced this summer

The Cleveland Charge were the latest to do so, hosting a WNBA night on Friday highlighting Cleveland’s upcoming WNBA franchise. 

Cleveland’s WNBA team won’t tip things off until 2028, but the city is already wrapping its arms around the return of professional women’s basketball.

“The city and the fans are already showing up,” WNBA Cleveland President Allison Howard said. “Eight-thousand people have already said and raised their hand and put their money down, that they want to be a season ticket member when we tip things off at Rocket Arena in 2028.” 

Howard thinks it’s important for other Cleveland teams like the Charge to show their support. 

“Both the Cavs side and the Charge side have been so supportive,” she said. “They’re helping us celebrate this wonderful return. They want to be as involved as they can be. Now we get to bring basketball year-round to our city.”

Cleveland Charge general manager Liron Fanan said the WNBA is already making its mark on northeast Ohio. 

“From the moment that they announced that there’s going to be a WNBA team, you could see it all throughout the organization and all throughout Ohio,” said Fanan. “I think when I was walking and going out and seeing people in restaurants, everyone was asking about the W. This is a sports town, a sports city. Adding women’s sports into that is a great feeling.” 

The work is already underway for Howard to connect with the community. The main focus is in schools and with young girls involved in sports. Howard hopes to ensure the city is fully bought in by the time play begins.

“We’re doing all these unique programs with camps and clinics,” she said. “The corporate partners are talking to us. We’re getting fans from outside of Ohio that plan to come to games and be here with us. They want to be a part of everything that we stand for, even leading up until 2028.” 

The official team name and branding for Cleveland’s new WNBA franchise will also be revealed this summer.