Cleveland Welcomes Back Professional Women’s Basketball with New WNBA Franchise: The Sirens
The WNBA team in Cleveland, referred to as 'The Land,' has officially been named the Cleveland Sirens. This marks the return of women's professional basketball to the city after a 25-year absence, with the original team, the Cleveland Rockers, having…
Cleveland Akron, OH, August 4, 2026 — The city of Cleveland is set to once again host a professional women’s basketball team, marking the return of the WNBA to the market after a quarter-century hiatus. The new franchise, officially named the Cleveland Sirens, will bring top-tier women’s basketball back to ‘The Land.’
The arrival of the Cleveland Sirens signifies the WNBA’s 16th franchise. This expansion is a significant development for the league and for Cleveland sports fans who have anticipated the return of professional women’s basketball since the departure of the original Cleveland Rockers. The Rockers were a part of the WNBA’s inaugural season and played from 1997 to 2003.
Home games for the Cleveland Sirens will be played at Rocket Arena, located in Downtown Cleveland. The team’s training facilities will be situated in Independence, Ohio. The establishment of these facilities is a key step in building the operational infrastructure for the new team.
The addition of the Cleveland Sirens is part of a larger strategic expansion by the WNBA. The league is also introducing new franchises in Detroit and Philadelphia, indicating a period of growth and increased reach for women’s professional basketball across the United States. This multi-city expansion aims to broaden the league’s footprint and engage new fan bases.
Story summarized from the original created by Camryn Justice on www.news5cleveland.com, see more information here.
