Cleveland could be the home of another professional franchise in the near future.

On Sunday, the Sports Business Journal reported that the WNBA is “likely” to expand to Cleveland in 2028. The new Cleveland team would be the league’s 16th franchise.

It wouldn’t be the first time Cleveland hosted a WNBA team. The Cleveland Rockers competed in the women’s league from 1997-2003. During that time, they made four playoff appearances, including an Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2000, and posted a record of 108-112.

Gordon Gund, the owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers at the time, purchased the Rockers in 2002. But he claimed the team didn’t turn a profit, and one of the founding eight teams of the WNBA folded in 2003.

The WNBA has been in the process of expanding recently. The league announced the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, who will begin play this summer. Two more teams are joining in 2026 as Portland and Toronto join.

No official announcement has been made, but the report stated that it could come “no later than March.”

On Nov. 20, The Associated Press reported that Rock Entertainment Group, which is connected to the Cavaliers, put in the expansion bid.

“It has long been woven into our mission to utilize our platform to unite our community in ways that drive equal opportunities across the board,” said Nic Barlage, CEO of the Cavs, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “To that end, we are actively pursuing bringing a WNBA expansion team to Cleveland.

“Cleveland’s vibrant ecosystem of world-class assets, passionate and engaged sports fans, coupled with a culture that has allowed professional sports to thrive, make our Team and city uniquely positioned to provide an ideal home for the W’s next franchise.”