Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers suggests possible comeback of WNBA team to Cleveland
Welcome to the Future: WNBA Expansion Heats Up, Golden State Valkyries Set to Debut
Get ready for some exciting changes in the WNBA! The Golden State Valkyries will make their debut during the 2025 season, marking the arrival of a brand-new team. By the time the 2026 WNBA season comes around, the Toronto Tempo and a yet-to-be-named Portland franchise will join the league. The WNBA has big plans for expansion, aiming to grow to 16 teams by 2028, with Cleveland potentially being that 16th team, according to Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell.
During a recent appearance on 'New Heights' with NFL players Jason and Travis Kelce, Donovan Mitchell opened up about what he's heard regarding a potential WNBA expansion team heading to Cleveland. "I won't give too much, but I've heard different things, but I won't say what I've heard," Mitchell said. "I think it'd be dope. Cleveland is the perfect place for it."
Coming off an impressive season that saw the Cleveland Cavaliers reach playoff heights, Mitchell expressed his enthusiasm for the potential WNBA expansion, praising Cleveland's community, vibe, and support. "Everything I said to you about the community, the vibe, the support, the love, I think this is the perfect place for it," he continued. "On top of that, the season is in the summer. This place in the summer is elite."
Although the Cleveland expansion team has yet to receive official confirmation, reports from back in February suggested that the city was indeed heading in this direction. The WNBA previously had a team in Cleveland with the Rockers being one of the league's original franchises. The Rockers were part of the WNBA for seven seasons, had four winning seasons during that stretch, and made four playoff appearances. Lynette Woodard, a former player for the Rockers, held the unofficial record for women's college basketball scoring before being surpassed by Caitlin Clark.
With nine cities submitting formal bids for the 16th WNBA team slot and Cleveland looking like the frontrunner, the stage is set for exciting developments in the world of women's basketball. Although the WNBA has not made any official announcements regarding the expansion team, Cleveland's historical ties and strong bid seem to position the city as the most likely candidate to revive the former Rockers franchise by 2028. Stay tuned for further updates on this promising expansion and the future of the WNBA!
- Travis Kelce's recent show 'New Heights' featured a discussion about the potential WNBA expansion to Cleveland in 2028, with Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell expressing his support for the move.
- In 2025, the Golden State Valkyries will make their WNBA debut, joining the Toronto Tempo and a yet-to-be-named Portland franchise, as the league aims to expand to 16 teams by 2028.
- The WNBA previously had a team in Cleveland with the Rockers being one of the league's original franchises, and with nine cities submitting bids for the 16th team slot, Cleveland seems to be the frontrunner to revive the former Rockers franchise.
- Donovan Mitchell also shared his thoughts on the potential WNBA expansion tips, praising Cleveland's community, vibe, and support, particularly for sports like basketball.
