The WNBA is on the verge of awarding its 16th franchise, with Cleveland reportedly in the lead. The league’s expansion plans have been re-thought, and it may now add two more teams to reach a total of 18 clubs. Philadelphia, Houston, Nashville, Detroit, and Miami are among the top contenders for the second and third teams.
Cleveland is expected to join the WNBA for the 2028 season, playing at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse under the name Rockers, which was originally an NBA team that folded in 2003 due to financial issues. The league’s exponential growth has led to rising expansion fees, with the Golden State Valkyries paying $50M to join and Toronto and Portland paying $115M and $125M, respectively.
The Cleveland bid is reportedly worth a record-breaking $250M, making it one of the most lucrative offers in WNBA history. The Cavaliers are leading the charge, with their high-end proposal backed by NBA infrastructure and facilities. Owner Dan Gilbert has invested heavily in Cleveland sports and entertainment, including a new training center for the Rockers.
The league is considering allowing current players to invest in team bids, which could potentially lead to more ownership groups vying for franchises. With multiple bids approaching $250M, it’s no wonder the WNBA is willing to take on three teams instead of one right now.
Source: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/02/16/cleveland-likely-to-be-awarded-next-wnba-franchise-for-2028