The Women’s National Basketball Association (W.N.B.A.) will welcome a new franchise in Cleveland, set to make its debut in the 2028 season under the name Cleveland Sirens, the team announced this week. This expansion team will be the league’s 16th and marks a fresh chapter for women’s professional basketball in Cleveland, distinct from the city’s previous W.N.B.A. presence, the Cleveland Rockers, which operated from 1997 to 2003.

Allison Howard, the Sirens’ president of business operations, described the team as embodying qualities such as fearlessness and relentlessness, reflecting both the regional character and the future of women’s basketball. The organization will operate independently from the Rockers’ legacy, with records and statistics maintained separately, signifying that this new franchise is not a continuation of the former team.

The Sirens plan to play their home games at Rocket Arena, also home to the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Their training and performance center, a 55,000-square-foot facility currently used by the Cavaliers, is undergoing conversion to accommodate the needs of the new women's team.

Cleveland’s expansion team was awarded in June 2025 alongside teams in Detroit and Philadelphia, slated to join the league in 2029 and 2030 respectively. This expansion is part of a broader growth trend for the W.N.B.A., following the addition of the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire this season and the Golden State Valkyries in 2025, marking the league’s first expansion team since 2008.

Since Howard’s appointment in August 2023, she has balanced her role with Rock Entertainment Group and the Cavaliers until the conclusion of the 2025-26 NBA season, after which she will dedicate herself full-time to the Sirens’ organization.

The team’s name and brand identity emphasize the region's connection to Lake Erie, a focal point of Ohio’s geography that previous major league teams have not prominently highlighted. The “Siren” name draws inspiration from mythology, symbolizing a forward-moving and progressive spirit, which aligns with the team’s vision for women’s sports and the broader community of Northeast Ohio.

The franchise has also embraced symbolism in its branding; the Sirens’ logo and wordmark feature design elements that represent sound waves, referencing the mythological sirens’ famed calls. The team’s blue color palette reflects the varying depths of Lake Erie and pays homage to the blue tones of the former Cleveland Rockers.

Despite the new name and identity, the organization aims to maintain a connection to Cleveland’s women’s basketball history by involving former Rockers players in the launch and planning an alumni program. Howard expressed hope that fans will develop their own unique chants and traditions that resonate with the Sirens’ name and spirit.

While the name Cleveland Sirens coincides with the New York Sirens of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the two teams represent distinct sports and markets, and team officials have dismissed concerns of brand overlap. Howard also mentioned openness to potential collaboration with the New York team in the future.

In preparation for their inaugural season, the Sirens have been building a staff and forging partnerships, including with the Cleveland Clinic. This collaboration aims to support research specific to female athletes, underscoring the franchise’s commitment to community engagement and athlete wellness.

“We always put our community first,” Howard said, emphasizing that partnerships will focus heavily on community impact as a cornerstone of the organization’s mission.