Cleveland-based KeyBank has emerged as the founding partner of the city’s impending WNBA franchise, with a long-coveted multiyear deal two years ahead of the team’s first game. As a longtime partner of Rock Entertainment Group — and a previous sponsor of the Fever before the Caitlin Clark era — KeyBank had its Chief Brand Officer Patty Jurca reach out to the team following SBJ’s report in February 2025 that Cleveland would likely become the WNBA’s 16th franchise in 2028.
“When we heard they were in the running to bring the WNBA back to Cleveland … we were so excited and kept asking them for updates even though they couldn’t share,” Jurca said. “…We would say, ‘Come on, you know something.’ So we were eagerly anticipating this to come so that we could start to have this conversation of what role is it going to play in our community.”
Once Cleveland was awarded a team in June 2025, talks began to evolve in-house. “I think it was an email from me to Patty or maybe I was answering Patty’s email — ‘When are we going to be able to get together and really talk about this?’” said team President of Business Operations Allison Howard.
As part of the arrangement, KeyBank will offer exclusive benefits and seating to fans who have placed initial $28 deposits to become ticket members for the yet-to-be-named Cleveland franchise — plus early access to the team’s merchandise once the name and branding are revealed later this summer. Howard said the front office has received roughly 9,000 deposits, some as high as $100 from fans who are anxious to sit courtside. She said 70% of those ticket members do not have ticket arrangements with the NBA’s Cavaliers or the G League’s Cleveland Charge.
“We don’t have a brand, we don’t have colors, we don’t have a mascot — all of that stuff is coming later in the summer,” Howard said. “But this fan base has already really shown up.”
KeyBank’s other team-centric activations include a “High Five” tunnel that gives fans rarified access to players entering the court for warmups, as well as a chance to be presenting partner of an annual theme night with an associated fan giveaway.
Pictured left to right: Nic Barlage, Rock Entertainment Group, CEO; Trina Evans, KeyBank, Chief of Staff and Director of Corporate Center; Allison Howard, Cleveland WNBA, President of Business Operations; and Chris Gorman, KeyBank, Chairman and CEO Cleveland WNBA
In the near term, KeyBank and the team’s front office is offering a sweepstake in which 14 fans (regardless of whether they’ve made a deposit) can win a pair of tickets to a game during the 2028 inaugural season. The fans can enter at WNBACleveland.com, with the contest closing on Aug. 10.
The two will also collaborate on a yearly community impact program, considering KeyBank’s headquarters are downtown. “One of the things that we’ve always liked about our partnership with Rock Entertainment has been that it’s not just slapping our logo on the building,” Jurca said. “We’re really trying to make an investment in our city and in Cleveland.”
The city’s previous WNBA franchise, the Rockers, played from 1997-to-2003 until then-Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund wanted to focus entirely on rookie LeBron James — and passed on purchasing the team from the NBA. The Rockers subsequently folded but are among the names being considered for the 2028 re-make.
“I kind of kid about that, but this is usually the first question out in the community or anywhere,” Howard said of the impending name. “There has been a lot of surveys, a lot of listening…You have one chance to announce a brand and do it the right way. And the fans, our future players all deserve for it to be done in a very respectful and, quite frankly, very fun way.”