\u201cThe enthusiasm and support behind the Cleveland Sirens underscore Cleveland\u2019s role in the league\u2019s next chapter of growth and affirm our readiness for a return of women\u2019s professional basketball,\u201d\u00a0said Nic Barlage, Rock Entertainment Group CEO, in a news release.\u00a0\u201cFrom the beginning, our vision has been to build a franchise that harnesses the power, visibility and opportunity that define this moment in women\u2019s sports and fortifies the city\u2019s momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fittingly announced during the box office mania of Christopher Nolan\u2019s hit movie The Odyssey, the team\u2019s name found inspiration from Greek mythology, pulling elements from the beautiful, yet dangerous sea creatures that lure sailors to their deaths.<\/p>\n
Lake Erie\u2019s not a sea. And it already has its own famous mythical creature: the Lake Erie Monster<\/a>, the namesake of Cleveland\u2019s American Hockey League team. The lake still proved central to the Sirens\u2019 conceptual development, with many nautical images being shared on social media<\/a> ahead of Tuesday’s announcement.<\/p>\n The team’s colors are “Sirens Blue” and “Erie Blue,” nodding both to Lake Erie and the Cleveland Rockers’ colors, according to a news release.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Cleveland Sirens are sharp, unapologetic, fearless and relentless, representative of this region, our Great Lake and the future of our city and women\u2019s basketball,\u201d\u00a0said Allison Howard, Cleveland Sirens president of business operations, in a news release.\u00a0\u201cPowered\u00a0by unrivaled fandom and a level of civic pride found only on the shores of Lake Erie, the Sirens will\u00a0sound\u00a0a new era for women\u2019s basketball while creating space for the next generation to dream even bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond the WNBA, Cleveland is having a moment with women\u2019s sports. Also in 2028, the city\u2019s new WPSL Pro women\u2019s soccer team, the Cleveland Astra<\/a>, will start playing.<\/p>\n RELATED: Why Did the WNBA’s Cleveland Rockers Leave 20 Years Ago? Largely, LeBron James<\/a><\/p>\n