Cleveland is on track to be awarded a WNBA expansion franchise, which is expected to join the league in the 2028 season, according to a report by Sports Business Journal.
The new franchise will play its home games at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the same venue that hosts the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. In an exciting development, the team will carry the name of Cleveland’s former WNBA team, the Cleveland Rockers, which existed from 1997 to 2003. The expansion bid, valued at a record-breaking $250 million, gives Cleveland a 90% chance of securing the team, as reported by SBJ’s Tom Friend.
Expansion plans for the WNBA beyond Cleveland
While Cleveland is poised to land a team, the WNBA’s expansion efforts may not stop there. The league is exploring the possibility of adding one or two more teams in addition to Cleveland, which would increase the total number of teams to 18. The cities being considered for an expansion are Philadelphia, Houston, Nashville, Detroit, and Miami.
The WNBA’s future expansion will include three new teams over the next two years. The first of these will be the Golden State Valkyries, set to begin play in the upcoming season. Teams in Toronto and Portland will join the league in 2026.
Cleveland’s reported $250 million bid far exceeds the expansion fees paid by Toronto and Portland, which were notably lower.
Why Houston and Philadelphia are strong contenders
Houston is seen as a prime candidate for one of the additional expansion spots due to the strong organizational backing from the Houston Rockets, led by team owner Tilman Fertitta. The franchise recently completed a state-of-the-art 75,000 square-foot practice facility. Additionally, the WNBA’s Houston Comets, which were active from 1997 to 2008, have a proud history, including four consecutive league championships from 1997 to 2000.
Philadelphia is also a top contender, thanks to significant investments and partnerships by the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, Josh Harris. Harris has joined forces with Comcast to build a new arena that would serve as the home for both the 76ers and the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.
Other cities eyeing for WNBA expansion teams include Denver, St. Louis (with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum as an investor), Austin (backed by NBA superstar Kevin Durant), Kansas City (with NFL star Patrick Mahomes among the investors), Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Milwaukee. Nashville’s investor group includes former WNBA star Candace Parker.
Additionally, the WNBA has applied for trademarks on the names of former franchises—Houston Comets, Detroit Shock, and Miami Sol—possibly hinting at preferences for these cities, while also acknowledging their strong brand legacies.