Cavaliers' ownership group to bid for WNBA team in Cleveland

Field Level Media|published: Wed 20th November, 14:48 2024

May 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Wilson official basketball with WNBA logo goes through the net during the game between the LA Sparks and the Las Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Cleveland is looking to rejoin the WNBA.

Rock Entertainment Group, which holds ties to the NBA's Cavaliers, is vying to bring a WNBA expansion team back to Northeast Ohio.

"It has long been woven into our mission to utilize our platform to unite our community in ways that drive equal opportunities across the board," Nic Barlage, CEO of the Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, said in a release Wednesday. "To that end, we are actively pursuing bringing a WNBA expansion team to Cleveland.

"Cleveland's vibrant ecosystem of world-class assets, passionate and engaged sports fans, coupled with a culture that has allowed professional sports to thrive, make our team and city uniquely positioned to provide an ideal home for the W's next franchise."

The Cleveland Rockers, one of the eight charter franchises of the WNBA, competed in the league from 1997 to 2003. They made the playoffs on four occasions and advanced to the Eastern Conference final in 2000 before the franchise folded after then-Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund was unsuccessful in his bid to find a new owner for the Rockers.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is on record as saying the league would like to add a 16th franchise by the 2028 season. The WNBA will balloon to 15 teams in the next two seasons following the additions of Golden State, Portland and Toronto.

--Field Level Media

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