CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland wants to get back into WNBA play.
With interest in women’s professional basketball growing, Rock Entertainment Group, which is also tied to the NBA’s Cavaliers, is trying to bring a WNBA expansion team to Cleveland.
“It has long been part of our mission to use our platform to unite our community in ways that promote equal opportunity at every level,” said Nic Barlage, CEO of Cavs, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage. FieldHouse. “To that end, we are actively seeking to bring 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, uniquely positions our team and city to provide an ideal home to the next W franchise.”
Cleveland previously had a WNBA team – the Rockers – from 1997 to 2003.
The WNBA is adding three expansion teams over the next two seasons, with Golden State, Portland and Toronto bringing the league’s franchise count to 15. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the WNBA would like to add a 16th team. here the 2028 season.
Star of chefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently said he was part of a group trying to get a WNBA franchise in Kansas City. Mahomes already co-owns the Kansas City Current, which plays in the National Women’s Soccer League.
St. Louis and Philadelphia have also been mentioned as possible WNBA destinations.
Cleveland might have an advantage over others because of its strong history with women’s basketball and an NBA-sized arena.
The city hosted this year’s Women’s Final Four at the 19,000-seat Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The games were sold out and the events surrounding the weekend drew massive crowds thanks in part to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who led her team to a second-place finish before turning professional and winning the All-Rookie title. year with the Indiana Fever.
Barlage pointed to the success of the Final Four as well as the fact that the city recently hosted the 2021 NFL Draft and 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend as further proof that a “WNBA team will thrive in the Northeast of Ohio.”
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