WNBA Expansion: Massive $250 million price tag set to bring back Cleveland Rockers franchise in 2028

The WNBA will reportedly award the newest franchise team to Cleveland. The Rockers will be back in the competition over two decades after they folded due to a lack of new ownership at the time.

Tom Friend (via Joe Pompliano on X/Twitter) reports that the W received a league-record $250 million expansion fee and the Rockers will start playing in the competition in 2028. They willl return to the league after they last played in 2003.

The Rockers were one of the eight original teams that were part of the WNBA during the inaugural season in 1997. The team from Cleveland will be the 16th franchise in the league. The Golden State Valkyries who will debut in the upcoming season are the 13th WNBA team, while the Portland and Toronto franchises are set to join the league during the next expansion ahead of the 2026 season.

Friend reports the city's expansions chances are as high as 90%, with the official announcement expected no later than March. The Rockers last played in the W in 2003 when former owner Gordon Gund said his company "Gund Arena" would no longer operate the team. They couldn't find new ownership due to irregular attendance and lack of revenue, forcing the team to cease operations 22 years ago.

The WNBA is benefitting from the growing popularity it's experienced in recent years. The Golden State Valkyries paid $50 million to become the 13th franchise in the league, while Toronto and Portland paid $115 million and $125 million, respectively, to be awarded an expansion team.

The fee doubled with Cleveland and it's anybody's guess how much money bidders will pay to get an WNBA team.

WNBA could add up to two more franchises after Cleveland Rockers decision

Tom Friend adds that the WNBA has changed its stance on how many teams they'd like to have competing. After awarding a team to the city with the No. 1 seed in the NBA's Eastern Conference, the league could add two more teams to bring its total to 18 franchises.

Philadelphia, Houston, Nashville, Detroit and Miami are thought to be favorites to get the next expansion franchise. Philadelphia is a city with a huge sports tradition and Houston used to host the four-time champions Comets.

WNBA legend Candace Parker and NFL legend Peyton Manning are part of a group pulling to bring a team to Nashville while NBA legends Grant Hill, Chris Webber and NFL quarterback Jared Goff are behind the Detroit bid. Miami had a team called "Sol" in the early 2000s, but it's unclear if the brand will be back if the city gets awarded an expansion team.