Cleveland's WNBA expansion team officially named Cleveland Sirens
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- Cleveland Sirens unveiled their name and branding at Rocket Arena on August 4, 2026, with the WNBA's 16th team set to begin play in 2028 after franchise naming priorities called for a separate identity from the Cavaliers, a Lake Erie tie, and a progressive feel.
- Dan Gilbert's Rock Entertainment Group paid a $250 million expansion fee to return Cleveland to the WNBA, 25 years after the original Cleveland Rockers folded in 2003 when owner Gordon Gund could not find a buyer.
- Former Rocker Janice Braxton, who played for the Rockers from 1997-99, narrated the name-reveal video carrying the 'Hear the Call' theme, and other ex-Rockers attended the event after a private dinner preview.
- The Sirens' logo features a Siren character with the letter 'S' concealing 'CLE,' and uses two shades of blue drawn from Lake Erie and the Rockers' original color palette.
- Sirens president Allison Howard said the franchise has accumulated 9,000 season ticket deposits over the past year and expects that number to climb following the name announcement.
- Howard noted the Sirens' fan demographic is 'totally different' from Cavaliers fans — arriving earlier, purchasing merchandise differently, and traveling from across Ohio and beyond, reinforcing the team's independent positioning.
Why it matters: A $250 million expansion fee signals the WNBA's commercial momentum is now strong enough to attract premium franchise prices in legacy markets — and Cleveland's 9,000 season ticket deposits ahead of a 2028 debut suggest demand for women's basketball in a city that lost its original team 23 years ago has already been validated.
