Cleveland’s new WNBA team doesn’t have a nickname yet, or at least one Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group has disclosed.
Shortly after the WNBA announced June 30 Cleveland will have a professional women’s basketball team again beginning with the 2028 season, Rock Entertainment Group brass held a news conference via Zoom.
The only revelation to come from the Zoom regarding the team’s nickname is Grant Gilbert, Cavaliers vice president of basketball and business operations and Dan Gilbert’s son, will take the lead on the naming process.
Cleveland Rockers: Will the original team nickname return?
The last time Cleveland had a WNBA team (1997-2003), it was called the Rockers. In February, Sports Business Journal reported Cleveland would likely return to the WNBA and be reprised as the Rockers. The WNBA applied to trademark the name Rockers, according to the report. When the new WNBACleveland.com website was accessed June 30, the following message with a nod to the Rockers flashed on the bottom of the screen: “Please wait, rockin’ content is loading.”
“Obviously, there is existing equity within the Rockers name itself, but [we’re] keeping all options open and going through an inclusive process with people within the Rock Entertainment Group portfolio, outside agencies, fan insights,” Grant Gilbert said. “So [we’re] keeping it open and going through a thorough process that we know the outcome is going to be very indicative of the pride of the Northeast Ohio community.”
In other words, the Rockers nickname could return, or another nickname could be used.
“We are keeping all options open at this point in time on the table,” Rock Entertainment Group and Cavs CEO Nic Barlage said. “We think it’s really important to be thoughtful and inclusive of our community.”
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘All options open’: What will Cleveland’s new WNBA team be nicknamed?
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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