The WNBA is set to make its return to Cleveland, Ohio, as part of a major league expansion. The news was met with mixed reactions from players, with Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham expressing her doubts about the team’s new city.
Cunningham mistakenly referred to Cleveland as “Cincinnati” during a recent interview and expressed skepticism about the league’s decision to bring a new team to the city. Her comments sparked a response from Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who jokingly referred to Cleveland in a post on social media.
WNBA owner Dan Gilbert also weighed in, urging Cunningham to support her new colleagues in Cleveland and Detroit. The news is part of a larger expansion plan for the league, which includes teams in Golden State, Toronto, Portland, and Philadelphia.
This marks the return of professional women’s basketball to Cleveland, 25 years after the city’s first WNBA franchise, the Rockers, folded in 2003. A new team will join the league in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.
Source: https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2025/07/donovan-mitchell-dan-gilbert-respond-to-wnba-stars-shot-at-cleveland.html