A formal bid for a WNBA team has been launched by Cleveland.

• An application to establish a WNBA franchise in Northeast Ohio is being presented by a Cleveland-based organization.
• Cleveland believes it has the right infrastructure and fan base to support a team.
• The WNBA plans to grow the league to 16 teams by 2028.

Northeast Ohio could have a WNBA team, as desired by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On Wednesday, Rock Entertainment Group, the parent company of Gilbert's sports and entertainment ventures, announced its plans to submit a proposal for a new WNBA team.

By 2028, the WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert aims to expand the league to 16 women's basketball teams. With the growth of women's sports, various cities are presenting their proposals.

Cleveland, with its professional sports teams including the NBA's Cavaliers, NFL's Browns, MLB's Guardians, and AHL's Monsters, is confident in its ability to support a women's franchise.

Cleveland Cavaliers CEO Nic Barlage believes that the combination of infrastructure, culture, and foundational elements make Northeast Ohio, particularly Cleveland, an excellent opportunity to grow as a WNBA team.

The Cavs recently announced a partnership with the Cleveland Clinic to establish a Performance Center for both the team and the public. Additionally, the Cavs have an existing practice facility in Independence, Ohio that could be utilized for a WNBA team.

Cleveland's fans are known for their passionate support, both during good times and bad.

""Cleveland is a sports-crazed city with a strong identity, having faced challenges in the past few generations," said David Gilbert, CEO of the Cleveland Sports Commission."

The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently leading the Eastern Conference with a 15-1 record, marking their best start in franchise history.

Last month, ahead of the WNBA Finals, Engelbert discussed expansion and stated that there is fierce competition for an expansion team, with at least 10 cities expressing interest.

Denver, Miami, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Philadelphia are also potential suitors.

""The demand for our product is high in many cities, and I believe that as more people watch the WNBA and see the growth and talent we have here, their interest in having it in their own cities will continue to rise," she stated."

The league has already experienced expansion with Englebert leading the way, and the Golden State Valkyries will begin their season in 2025, while Toronto and Portland, Oregon, were awarded the 14th and 15th franchises earlier this year.

Engelbert stated that there is no immediate need for a 16th team and that the deadline for its arrival is either '27 or no later than '28.

The league is considering various factors when choosing an expansion team in a city, such as practice facilities, ownership commitment, demographics, and the presence of Fortune 500 companies.

Allen & Company, which assisted Gilbert in purchasing the Cavs in 2005, has been appointed by the WNBA to lead the expansion process.

Cleveland's case

Cleveland has previously hosted one of the WNBA's original franchises, the Cleveland Rockers, from 1997 to 2003. The team folded after seven seasons due to low attendance, as stated by owner Gordon Gund, who could not find a way to make the team profitable.

"In 2003, Gund stated that he had invested in the business for seven years and was still trying to find a viable model for it to succeed in the marketplace. Despite the fans' enthusiasm and support, the company lacked the necessary resources."

Gund shifted his focus to the Cavs and their quest for acquiring LeBron James after the league failed to locate new owners.

Since the Rockers folded, the WNBA and women's sports have experienced significant growth.

The WNBA's most-watched finals game in 25 years was accompanied by a surge in attendance and a significant increase in merchandise sales.

Cleveland has experienced a revival, partly due to James' return to the city in 2014, as noted by The Washington Post Editorial Board in a January article, which dubbed Cleveland "America's best example of rejuvenating a struggling downtown."

Barlage stated that we believe we are situated at the intersection of the Mediterranean and Midwest, and there is no reason why we cannot have the same opportunities as some of the higher growth markets in the southern half of the country.

The Cavs, Monsters, and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse have generated a total of $6.5 billion in output since 1994, according to the Cavs 2024 Community Impact Report. The Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse hosted over 150 events in 2024, including the 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four, contributing to the city's economic growth.

Gilbert stated that he believes a team assigned to Cleveland would be successful due to the city, the significance of sports in the area, and the Cavs.