A group led by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert plans to submit a proposal for a WNBA expansion team. This would be the second WNBA franchise to play in Cleveland following the Rockers, who were an original league franchise that played from 1997-2003 before ceasing operations.
Cavaliers CEO Nic Barlage told CNBC’s Jessica Golden Wednesday morning: “We have this unique convergence of infrastructure, culture and these foundational pieces that we think make Northeast Ohio, and specifically Cleveland, a great opportunity to expand from a WNBA perspective.”
Last month, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said via Cleveland.com: “I think Cleveland definitely deserves a WNBA team. It’s big time for Portland and San Francisco to add one. But Cleveland is a perfect sports city for it. The WNBA is at an all-time high and I love the competition. Been this way for a while and I think people are now starting to finally pay attention .. I would love to be part of that [franchise in Cleveland], for sure, if that ever happens. It’s been great basketball. It’s become more national. I feel like us as players, we’ve been there from the jump. I think it’s great that the world is finally starting to see what we all see.”
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert wants to be at 16 teams by 2028; currently the league is at 12, and will be adding Golden State (2025), Toronto and Portland (2026) over the next two seasons. She said in October the league is not in a rush to award another expansion franchise: “I’d say there’s 10 to 12 cities that are very viable that we’re evaluating, and we have a process. I’d say I don’t have a deadline by which we have to name it because it’ll be out to ’27 or ’28, but I would think in the next couple months or so we’ll start — now as we get into the offseason, we’ll start taking a look at those that will go to the top of the list through our process.”
Cleveland will have competition in their quest to be the WNBA’s 16th team, with Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Philadelphia all having shown interest.
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