The Cleveland Cavaliers are rolling this season.
Dan Gilbert wants to find that same success in a different league.
According to a report by Jess Golden (via Joe Pompliano), the Cavs owner is part of a group looking to bring the WNBA to Cleveland.
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is submitting a bid for a WNBA expansion team, per @JGolden5.
The WNBA has already announced new teams in Golden State, Portland, and Toronto, and 15+ cities are bidding on the league's 16th team.
The expansion fee could reach $200 million. pic.twitter.com/oYuF7aKODS
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 20, 2024
The defunct Cleveland Rockers, one of the original WNBA franchises, folded in 2003.
With a newly found interest in women’s basketball, a bright generation of players headlined by Caitlin Clark, and new money coming in, Gilbert and other investors want to jump on board the ship.
As Pompliano points out, the WNBA has already announced expansion teams in Toronto, Portland, and the Bay area, and more than 15 cities are currently bidding to host the league’s 16th franchise.
Gilbert is the CEO of the Cleveland Sports Commission, so he has the means and contacts to get it done.
The expansion fee could reach $200 million, but given the potential for a massive influx of money, it might end up being a bargain.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert reported that Philadelphia, St. Louis, Denver, Miami, and Milwaukee are among the many teams currently interested in hosting a WNBA team.
As such, there will be some steep competition from bigger markets in this pursuit.
Seeing the WNBA expanding and thriving after years of just surviving is nice.
They’re aiming to have 16 teams by 2028, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Gilbert and company can pull this off and give Cleveland fans yet another team to root for.
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