Cleveland Sirens unveil name, branding for WNBA expansion team - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Cleveland's WNBA expansion team had three priorities for the franchise's name.

It had to have its own identity and not be related to the Cavaliers. It needed to tie in to Lake Erie. And fans wanted something progressive.

The Cleveland Sirens think they accomplished all three Tuesday when they introduced the name and branding during an event at Rocket Arena on Tuesday.

Welcome, Cleveland Sirens! <a href=«https://x.com/clevelandwnba?ref_src=» https:>@clevelandwnba

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The WNBA's 16th team will begin play in 2028. Cleveland was home to one of the league's original franchises when the WNBA started in 1997, but the Rockers folded in 2003 when owner Gordon Gund could not find a new buyer.

Dan Gilbert's Rock Entertainment Group, which has owned the Cavaliers since 2005, paid a $250 million expansion fee for Cleveland's return to the WNBA.

Janice Braxton, who played for the Rockers for three seasons (1997-99), narrated a video introducing the name and the theme of «Hear the Call.»

Braxton, along with other former Rockers' players, were also at Tuesday's event.

«We were at dinner with them last night and we gave them a sneak peak of the video. And they were overwhelming in their support and clapped several different times,» said Allison Howard, the Sirens' president of business operations.

The logo features a Siren underneath the name. The «S» in the wordmark also conceals «CLE». The two shades of blue take inspiration from Lake Erie and the Rockers' logo.

«We really wanted something that people could rally behind a real character. And we're really excited about that,» said Grant Gilbert, Rock Entertainment Group's vice president of business and basketball operations. «I think the other aspect