On June 30, the WNBA announced that Cleveland will become its next expansion city and the home of the league’s 16th franchise, set to begin play in the 2028 season.
This marks the return of professional women’s basketball to Cleveland, which previously hosted the Cleveland Rockers from 1997 to 2003. The Rockers were one of the WNBA’s original eight teams and quickly became a competitive force in the league. After the 2002 season, then-Cleveland Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund purchased the Rockers from the WNBA, a move that initially appeared to secure the team’s future. However, following the 2003 season, the Gund family opted not to continue operating the franchise, citing low revenue and declining attendance. With no new local ownership in place, the Rockers were forced to fold in December 2003. Over their seven seasons, the team posted a 108–112 record before their players were distributed to other teams through a dispersal draft.
Now, 25 years after the Rockers first tipped off, the WNBA is officially returning to The Land. Cleveland’s addition comes during a period of unprecedented growth for the league, which plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030. Upcoming franchises include Golden State (2025), Toronto (2026), Portland (2026), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030). Alongside expansion, the WNBA has secured a landmark media rights deal and continues to break records across nearly every metric: viewership, attendance, merchandise sales, social media engagement, WNBA League Pass subscriptions and app downloads—signaling a new era for women’s basketball.
The team will call Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland its home—a world-class, 19,000-seat arena that recently hosted a sold-out 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four. The state-of-the-art venue will provide an electric atmosphere for fans as professional women’s basketball returns to the city.
The Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio—located less than 10 miles south of Rocket Arena—will serve as the team’s exclusive training and practice facility. Opened in 2007, the 52,000-square-foot complex is regarded as one of the premier practice venues in professional basketball, featuring top-tier amenities and technology.
Looking ahead, players will also benefit from access to the upcoming Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, currently under construction on the Cuyahoga Riverfront. A joint project between Dan Gilbert’s Cleveland Cavaliers and Bedrock Real Estate, the 210,000-square-foot facility is slated to open in 2027. In partnership with the Cleveland Clinic, it will offer cutting-edge performance technology, advanced sports science resources and world-class medical care, further establishing Cleveland as a hub for elite athletic development.
The new WNBA franchise has yet to be named, though many anticipate a return of the “Rockers” moniker in tribute to the original Cleveland Rockers—a nod to the city’s iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With the growing popularity of the WNBA and women’s sports nationwide, the addition of this team marks an exciting new chapter for Cleveland, a city celebrated for its passionate sports culture. The team is set to take the court in the 2028 season.
