The WNBA is officially coming back to Cleveland, as it’ll be time to HEAR THE CALL when the Cleveland Sirens officially become the league’s 16th team in 2028.

This isn’t Cleveland’s first time hearing that call.

Before the Sirens, there were the Cleveland Rockers. As one of the WNBA’s charter franchises, the Rockers began play in 1997 and remained in Cleveland through 2003. During their seven seasons, the Rockers compiled a 108-112 record and made the playoffs four times, including two seasons in which they finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Despite that success, however, the Rockers were never able to capture a championship.

Ultimately, financial losses and declining ticket sales led to the franchise’s demise. In 2003, Rockers owner Gordon Gund, who at the time also owned the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, was unable to find a new buyer, and the team folded.

Twenty-five years later, Cleveland gets another chance.

But this time, it’s different.

This time, Cleveland isn’t getting the Rockers back.

It’s getting the Sirens.

The name Sirens comes from Greek mythology, specifically drawing inspiration from powerful and alluring mythical beings known for their captivating songs. In ancient stories such as The Odyssey, the Sirens were legendary figures whose irresistible calls could lure sailors toward them. For Cleveland’s new WNBA team, the name also pays tribute to one of the city’s biggest assets: Lake Erie. The connection between the Sirens’ mythical call and Cleveland’s connection to the lake gives the franchise a name that feels both unique and distinctly Cleveland.

There’s also an interesting connection between the Sirens and the Monsters beyond simply sharing Rocket Arena. The Cleveland Monsters’ name is inspired by “Bessie,” the legendary sea monster said to inhabit Lake Erie. So, when the Sirens and Monsters share the same arena, Cleveland will have two professional teams whose identities are connected to the mythology and folklore surrounding Lake Erie.

When the Sirens join the league in ’28, they’ll play their home games at Rocket Arena alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Monsters. Playing at the same arena as the Monsters and Cavs creates an interesting logistical challenge for Rocket Arena. The Cavaliers and Monsters already have overlapping seasons, meaning there are days when the Monsters can play an afternoon game before the arena has to be transformed for a Cavaliers game that same night and vice versa.

But what happens when all three teams are playing home games during the same stretch of the calendar?

With the Sirens joining the mix, Rocket Arena will have to accommodate three professional sports schedules instead of two. How often will there be same-day doubleheaders? Will the Sirens have to adjust their schedule around the Cavaliers and Monsters? And how will the arena handle the constant changeovers when all three teams are competing for dates?

Those are certainly questions that will need to be answered before the Sirens take the court.

The WNBA has been going through a tremendous period of growth in recent years. The Golden State Valkyries joined the league for the 2025 season, while the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are playing their inaugural seasons in 2026. The Sirens will join the league in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.

That gives Cleveland an opportunity to build something special from the ground up.

The Sirens will have the chance to start with a clean slate and establish a culture and identity all their own, create new traditions, and give Cleveland fans a new team to fall in love with. They’ll also give a new generation of young basketball fans the opportunity to see professional women’s basketball right here in Northeast Ohio.

And there’s something particularly exciting about being able to experience the beginning of a franchise.

Cleveland fans have watched the Cavaliers and Monsters build their own histories at Rocket Arena, including capturing championships just eight days apart in 2016, with the Monsters winning the Calder Cup on June 11 and the Cavaliers winning the NBA Championship on June 19. Starting in 2028, they’ll get to watch the Sirens begin writing their own history.

Another exciting part of bringing the WNBA back to Cleveland will be seeing which rivalries develop. The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky seem like two of the most logical teams for the Sirens to develop rivalries with, simply because of their proximity to Cleveland. Indiana, in particular, could become a natural geographic rival, while Chicago gives Cleveland another nearby Midwest matchup that could develop into something special.

Of course, rivalries can’t be manufactured overnight. They have to develop through competitive games, memorable moments, and sometimes, a little bit of animosity. But with Cleveland joining the league, there’s a good chance some new rivalries will emerge.

Another exciting part of bringing the WNBA back to Cleveland will be the opportunity for fans to see some of the biggest stars in women’s basketball come to town. When the Indiana Fever visit Rocket Arena, Cleveland fans will have the chance to see Caitlin Clark, one of the biggest stars not only in the WNBA, but in women’s basketball as a whole. Clark has helped bring an enormous amount of attention to the league and seeing her take the court in Cleveland will be a major attraction for fans.

And the Fever won’t be the only team bringing a superstar to Cleveland. When the Las Vegas Aces come to town, fans will get the opportunity to see A’ja Wilson, one of the most accomplished players in WNBA history. Wilson has won four WNBA MVP’s, in 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025, along with two WNBA Finals MVP awards (2023 and 2025). She has also been a centerpiece of the Aces’ dynasty, helping lead Las Vegas to WNBA championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Cleveland fans will also get the opportunity to see the Minnesota Lynx, one of the most successful franchises in WNBA history. The Lynx have won four WNBA championships, with their titles coming in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Having a team with that kind of championship history come to Rocket Arena adds another exciting matchup to the Sirens’ future schedule.

That’s another part of what makes the Sirens’ arrival so exciting. Cleveland won’t just be getting a new team. It will be getting a front-row seat to the best women’s basketball in the world.

There will be a first game. A first basket. A first win. A first rivalry. A first playoff appearance.

And eventually, Cleveland fans will get to look back and remember that they were there at the beginning.

The Rockers left behind a history that deserves to be remembered. But the Sirens have the opportunity to create a history of their own.

The call has been made.

Now, Cleveland gets to answer.