Cleveland Reportedly Set to Land WNBA’s 16th Franchise Amid Expansion News

The WNBA’s expansion efforts are rapidly taking shape, and Cleveland is reportedly on the verge of securing the league’s next franchise.

According to Sports Business Journal, sources indicate that Cleveland is expected to receive a WNBA team, potentially reviving the Cleveland Rockers, the city’s original WNBA franchise that folded in 2003. The bid for the team is estimated at $250 million, which would be a league record.

The expansion process isn’t finalized yet, but reports suggest there’s a 90% chance that Cleveland lands the franchise, with an official WNBA announcement anticipated by March 2025.

Cleveland would become the 16th team in the league, following the addition of the Golden State Valkyries (2025) and future teams in Portland and Toronto (2026). However, the expansion may not stop there—both Houston and Philadelphia are reportedly frontrunners for additional franchises in the near future.