On Feb. 16, Sports Business Journal, as well as Sports Illustrated— reported that my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, is “likely” to see the return of the Rockers to the WNBA heading into the 2028 season. According to the report, as well as an article from News 5 Cleveland, plus an article and video from Channel 3 WKYC, if the WNBA does expand to The Land, the team would be known as the Rockers, the same name that was used from 1997-2003.
While these reports have yet to be officially confirmed, the possibility has already generated significant excitement among basketball fans in Cleveland. Whether the Rockers’ revival becomes a reality remains to be seen, but the mere speculation is enough to spark conversations about Cleveland’s potential resurgence in professional Women’s Basketball.
I was at the 2024 Women’s National Championship, as Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes took on the South Carolina Gamecocks. It was a truly amazing atmosphere inside what was then-Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, now called Rocket Arena, as fans from both teams filled the arena with deafening cheers, creating an electric environment that amplified the intensity of the game. The stands were a sea of Iowa and South Carolina supporters, all on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating each thrilling moment. Clark, with her signature range and dynamic playmaking, commanded attention on the court, while the Gamecocks, led by their relentless defense and athleticism, gave everything they had to challenge Iowa’s offensive firepower. The energy was palpable, making it clear that this was more than just a game—it was a historic showdown for the National Championship.
The energy in the building from the sold out crowd was palpable and it carried over from the two Final Four games, South Carolina vs. North Carolina State and Iowa vs. UConn (a matchup that featured Caitlin Clark against Paige Bueckers), that also took place in Cleveland 48 hours earlier. It showed that Cleveland truly cares about Women’s Basketball, and that if the reports turn out to be true, there would be support for the return of the Rockers. Perhaps a lot of that energy and excitement from last year’s Final Four and National Championship games is because of how much Clark captured the imagination, and that’s carried over right into the WNBA.
Once Clark was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever, teams were having to move their home games against the Fever to larger arenas to accommodate for the larger crowds, and that’s happening once again this season. The games between the Fever and the Chicago Sky in Chicago (June 7 and July 27) are being moved to the United Center, home of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, rather than the Sky’s usual home which is Wintrust Arena, which has a seating capacity of approximately. 10,000. When Clark and the Fever visit the Dallas Wings on June 27, that game will be played at the American AIrlines Center, home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and NHL’s Dallas Stars, rather than the Wings usual home which is College Park Center, that has a seating capacity of 6,251. Also, the game between the Fever and Atlanta Dream on May 22 is being moved to State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, rather than The Gateway Center Arena @ College Park, which has a capacity of 3,500 for basketball games. This trend indicates that Women's Basketball is more marketable than ever, and Cleveland could capitalize on this momentum.
Cleveland has three viable venues that the Rockers could use for their home games:
If Dan Gilbert is the owner of the Rockers, should they return in three years, I suspect that he’d want them to play at Rocket Arena alongside the Cavaliers and Monsters (plus maybe the Cleveland Gladiators, who played in the Arena Football League from 2008 to 2017, if they make their return in 2026).
The Rockers were one 0f the original eight franchises, alongside the Charlotte Sting, Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz, when the league began play in the late 1990s. They folded at the end of the 2003 season in part because of declining home game attendance. During that 2003 season, the Rockers averaged 7,400, which is a big drop off from 10,350 in 1998, as well as financial losses. However, with the surge in popularity of Women's Basketball and the success of recent events hosted in Cleveland, the timing seems ideal for the league to bring the WNBA back to Northeast Ohio.
The WNBA as a whole experienced significant growth this past season, thanks to a surge in viewership and attendance driven by the superstar talent coming into the league such as Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Jacy Sheldon, amongst others. But it’s been Clark who's been the most impactful on the league, as the Golden State Valkyries will be playing their inaugural season this year and the Toronto Tempo and Portland (Oregon) will be joining in 2026 which will bring the total to 15 teams.
If Cleveland secures a WNBA franchise once again, it would not only be a victory for the city’s basketball scene, but also further validate the league’s expansion efforts. With women's sports continuing to gain the recognition and support they deserve, bringing back the Rockers would be a fitting step forward. While official confirmation is still pending, the prospect of the WNBA’s return to Cleveland is an exciting one, and fans will be eagerly awaiting further developments in the coming months.
