Cleveland Sirens Announced as WNBA’s New Expansion Team
Rock Entertainment Group unveiled the Cleveland Sirens as the WNBA’s 16th franchise on August 4, 2026. The team’s name, logo and two shades of blue—“Sirens Blue” and “Erie Blue”—draw on Lake Erie and Greek mythology. The “S” in the wordmark hides a “CLE” and the logo features a siren beneath the name.
The Sirens will play home games at Rocket Arena, sharing the venue with the NBA’s Cavaliers but maintaining a distinct identity, according to business‑operations president Allison Howard. Ownership, led by Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group, paid a $250 million expansion fee and emphasized that the team will not be a “Lady Cavaliers” version of the NBA club.
Cleveland last hosted a WNBA team, the Rockers, from 1997 to 2003. The Sirens mark the league’s rapid growth, joining recent expansion teams in Toronto, Portland, Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030). The franchise aims to attract a new fan base across Northeast Ohio and revive professional women’s basketball in the city.
Entities
Allison Howard · Cleveland Sirens · Dan Gilbert · Lake Erie · Nic Barlage · Rock Entertainment Group · Rocket Arena
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The WNBA will have 18 teams after Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) join. www.thebiglead.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The name draws inspiration from Lake Erie and mythological sirens.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Cleveland WNBA franchise will be named the Cleveland Sirens. www.thebiglead.com · gomag.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The franchise is owned and operated by Rock Entertainment Group. www.thebiglead.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Cleveland Sirens mark the return of the WNBA to Cleveland after the Rockers folded in 2003. www.thebiglead.com · gomag.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The team will begin play in the 2028 season. www.thebiglead.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Home games will be played at Rocket Arena.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Team colors are “Sirens Blue” and “Erie Blue.” gomag.com