WNBA Franchise to Cleveland
WNBA’s 16th Franchise Coming to Cleveland, OH
Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group to Own and Operate New Team
NEW YORK and CLEVELAND – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced today that Cleveland, Ohio, will be home to the league’s 16th franchise. The Cleveland team, set to begin play in the 2028 season, will be operated by Rock Entertainment Group (REG), the umbrella entity that houses Dan Gilbert’s sports and entertainment properties under the ROCK Family of Companies.
The team will play its home games at the renowned Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland, a state-of-the-art 19,000-seat arena that recently hosted the sold-out 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four. Additionally, Cleveland Clinic Courts will become the exclusive training and practice facility of the Cleveland WNBA team. Opened in September 2007 and located less than 10 miles south of Rocket Arena in Independence, OH, Cleveland Clinic Courts is a premier, 52,000+ sq. ft. practice facility widely known as one of the top facilities in professional basketball.
“The WNBA’s return to Cleveland marks a pivotal moment for women’s sports. Years from now, we will reflect on this day as a truly monumental point in Cleveland’s sporting history,” said Dan Gilbert, Rock Entertainment Group Chairman. “The passion, support and continued commitment of our community for our professional sports teams played an integral role in making this possible. We’re confident that this team will honor our city’s enthusiastic support of women’s sports, reinvigorate our WNBA fan base and help cultivate the next generation of women’s basketball enthusiasts and athletes. We’re grateful to the WNBA and Commissioner Engelbert for this opportunity and for their unwavering belief in Cleveland.”
In 2005, Dan Gilbert acquired the Cleveland Cavaliers, and under his leadership, the team has clinched six Central Division championships, five Eastern Conference titles, and, most notably, the 2016 NBA Championship. Gilbert’s diverse sports portfolio also includes the Cleveland Charge (NBA G League affiliate) and the Cleveland Monsters (AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets).
This past October, Gilbert’s Cleveland Cavaliers and Bedrock broke ground on the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, an elite sports performance training facility, which is expected to open in 2027. The Performance Center will span more than 210,000 square feet and, and in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic, WNBA players will have access to cutting-edge performance technologies and world-class medical care.
This expansion announcement comes amid the WNBA’s historic growth. Cleveland joins a rapidly expanding WNBA, which will grow to 15 teams by 2026, with additions in Golden State (2025), Toronto (2026), and Portland (2026). In addition to the League’s recent expansion, it has recently added its most anticipated rookie class ever and signed a groundbreaking new media rights deal. The league has shattered records for viewership, attendance, merchandise sales, social media engagement, digital subscriptions (WNBA League Pass) and app downloads. The city’s new franchise will mark the return of women’s professional basketball to Cleveland for the first time since the Cleveland Rockers, one of the league’s original eight teams.
Fans who wish to buy a season ticket membership for the WNBA Cleveland team can do so by placing a deposit at WNBACleveland.com. They can also follow @ClevelandWNBA on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for updates as more information comes together ahead of the inaugural season.
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ABOUT ROCK ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Rock Entertainment Group (REG), formed in 2021 under the Dan Gilbert ROCK Family of Companies, oversees a diverse portfolio of sports and entertainment properties. These include the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, NBA G League’s Cleveland Charge and Cavs Legion of the NBA 2K League. REG operates and manages Rocket Arena and Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio. In partnership with Gray Media, REG also owns and operates Rock Entertainment Sports Network, providing 24/7 local Ohio sports and entertainment programming. Rock Entertainment Group unifies multiple sports, venues, music, and content properties, fostering collaboration, growth and new opportunities while delivering exceptional experiences for fans, teams, partners and staff.
ABOUT THE WNBA
The WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Currently in its 28th season in 2024, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content, and community and youth outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it. In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking CBA that has charted a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s partnership platform, the WNBA Changemakers Collective, with AT&T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and NIKE, Inc., and subsequent additions Google, U.S. Bank and CarMax. During the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing work regarding women’s and maternal health and voting rights, among other important societal issues.