For more than 20 years, whispers and tales circulated among WNBA fans longing for a team in Cleveland, a nostalgic longing for the days of old.
Now, those rumors have become rackets, as the league announced that Cleveland will once again be home to a franchise.
The news comes after the WNBA added the Golden State Valkyries and Toronto Tempo to the list of future franchises.
The Cleveland Rockers, one of the league’s original teams, suited up from 1997-2003. During their tenure in the WNBA, the Rockers were a force, making several playoff appearances.
Despite never capturing a championship, the Rockers built a loyal fan base and left a lasting mark on the city.
The team, under the management of businessman Gordon Gund, ceased operations in 2003, citing financial difficulties, leaving a void in the hearts of Cleveland basketball enthusiasts.
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The Rockers secured the bid over another original franchise: the Detroit Shock.
The return of the Rockers is not just a win for the city, but for the league. The WNBA experienced a surge in popularity in 2024, with increased viewership and attendance.
The addition of a team in a major market like Cleveland will only further solidify the WNBA’s position as a premier professional sports league.
With the league filing paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for franchises such as the Miami Sol, Orlando Miracle and Charlotte Sting, many believe women’s basketball is ballooning into something grand.
The Cleveland Rockers anticipate a return during the 2028 WNBA season.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more WNBA news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
