WNBA hype grows in Cleveland
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to fans at Rocket Arena. Photo: Sam Allard/Axios
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert coronated Cleveland as a WNBA town during a celebration at Rocket Arena Tuesday.
The big picture: The WNBA is the country's fastest-growing sports league, and expansion franchises are commanding big price tags as ownership groups vie for a piece of the pie.
- Engelbert said the league considered more than 100 U.S. cities through the lens of 25 criteria during the expansion process, and that Cleveland "literally rose to the top of list."
What she's saying: The league looks for markets with three key components: a committed ownership group, a passionate fan base, and "a community that embraces the power of women's sports."
Between the lines: That last component refers, in part, to a corporate community with sponsorship potential.
- "If you look at the Fortune 500 and all the corporations that are based here, Cleveland was kind of next up," Engelbert told Axios.
Catch up quick: Engelbert worked for Deloitte for 33 years and served as the corporation's first female CEO from 2015 to 2019.
- She told Axios she'd been to Cleveland "many times" due to Deloitte's significant presence and major clients in Northeast Ohio.
By the numbers: The franchise launches in 2028, and "28" figured prominently in the news conference.
- The team announced 28 "unique activations" across Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Western New York through June 30, 2026 that will "create real pathways" for girls in sports, according to Allison Howard, the team's president.
- These will include camps, clinics, coach training sessions and other professional development opportunities.
What's next: The team name will be announced in early 2026.
- Nearly 7,000 fans have already made an initial payment — a symbolic $28 deposit that puts them on a priority waiting list for season tickets.