News that Cleveland is likely to be the next U.S. city to welcome a WNBA team surfaced over the weekend, and fans already have plenty to say about the proposed team's name (the Cleveland Rockers) and how the franchise will fare.
The WNBA is also reportedly open to adding up to two more franchises this year, which would bring the league total up to 18. Cities at the top of the list include Nashville, Philadelphia, Houston, Detroit, and Miami — though nothing, not even the potential team in Cleveland, has been officially confirmed.
Who were the Cleveland Rockers?
If granted, the new team in Cleveland would take on the name of the team the team formerly housed from from 1997 to 2003. The team's original owner was Gordon Gund, who was also the owner of the Cavaliers.
The Cleveland Rockers were one of the original founding 8 WNBA teams and attracted talent like Lynette Woodard, the first woman to join the Harlem Globetrotters. They enjoyed their best season in 2001, when they held a 22-10 record and won the Eastern Conference. The athletes ended up on other WNBA teams after a dispersal draft was held in 2003.
What the new Cleveland team learn from the Valkyries
The addition of the Golden State Valkyries is exciting for fans and athletes, and also provides lessons for incoming teams like the Toronto Tempo and the as-yet-unnamed team in Portland, Oregon. If granted, the Cleveland Rockers will also be able to glean plenty from the Valkyries' experience so far.
For starters, it's not easy to build a brand new roster for a brand-new team. The Valkyries held a successful Expansion Draft in December 2024 but then failed to attract marquee-name talent during free agency in 2025. Both the Toronto and Portland teams will likely enter the league ahead of 2026 free agency when the majority of the league will be available — and they might also find that attracting big-name veterans is an uphill battle until a team has a more successful track record.
In fact, if there's one lesson the Rockers and any new WNBA teams can take from the Valkyries, it's that patience is key. The Golden State Valkyries have managed to pull in athletes who will make a difference this season — Tiffany Hayes, Monique Billings, and Kayla Thornton for sure — and who will hopefully rock with the team as they become viable playoff and championship contenders.