Cleveland Rockers

History

The city of Cleveland was granted one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA in October 1996. The Cleveland Rockers got their nickname from Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1997, they started with players Isabelle Fijalkowski and former Harlem Globetrotters member Lynette Woodard, who had been the first female player in Globetrotter history.

The Rockers finished 15–13 in the inaugural 1997 WNBA season, missing the playoffs. In 1998, the Rockers went 20–10 and won the Eastern Conference title. However, the Rockers lost to the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA semifinals (before the WNBA split the playoffs by conference).

The Rockers had their best regular season in 2001, going 22–10 and winning the Eastern Conference, getting the No. 1 seed. Their relentless defense allowed just 55.9 points per game that year, a record that still stands. But the Rockers would be upended by the Charlotte Sting in the 1st round, losing 2 games to 1. The 2002 Rockers fell by 12 games over the previous year's mark, posting a 10–22 record. In 2003, the Rockers would go 17–17, good enough for the No. 4 seed in the East; however, they would fall in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champion Detroit Shock, 2–1. 2003 was the Rockers' last playoff appearance, and is the only team in the WNBA to qualify for the playoffs in their last season of play.

Folding

After the 2002 season, the Gunds decided to buy the Rockers from the WNBA, seemingly ensuring the Rockers' future. However, despite fielding competitive teams and having decent attendance for most games, the Gund family decided they did not wish to operate the Rockers after the 2003 season, citing a lack of revenue and lackluster attendance. No local ownership was found for the team, forcing the Rockers to fold in December 2003, and the players went to the other teams in the league via a dispersal draft in January 2004. The Rockers ceased operation after seven seasons, posting an all-time record of 108–112. A WNBA franchise would next fold in 2008 when the Houston Comets ceased operations because of lack of ownership.

Revival

Main article: Cleveland WNBA team

On June 30, 2025, Cleveland was formally granted a new expansion franchise alongside Detroit and Philadelphia. Cleveland's new team will begin play in the 2028 season.

Season-by-season records

Hall of famers

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

FIBA Hall of Famers

Coaches and others

Head coaches:

• Linda Hill-MacDonald (1997–1999)
• Dan Hughes (2000–2003)

General Managers:

• Wayne Embry (1997–99)
• Jim Paxson

Assistant coaches

• Mike Wilhelm (1997–99)
• Lisa Boyer (1998-2002)
• Cheryl Reeve (2003)

References

References

1. (October 31, 1996). "Cleveland among 8 original franchises". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
2. (February 13, 1997). "Cleveland WNBA team named". News-Journal.
3. (June 21, 1997). "WNBA team rosters". The Shreveport Times.
4. James, Michael. (August 25, 1997). "Liberty rock OT, roll into playoffs". Daily News.
5. (August 22, 1998). "Rockers hope to defy trend against Mercury". The Tampa Tribune.
6. (August 26, 1998). "Mercury finishes Rockers; Comets next in WNBA finals". Arizona Daily Star.
7. (August 15, 2001). "Detroit victory shocks Cleveland". Democrat and Chronicle.
8. (August 21, 2001). "Sting advances in WNBA playoffs". Rocky Mount Telegram.
9. (August 14, 2002). "Schumacher's got playoff Fever". The Daily Spectrum.
10. Krista, Latham. (September 3, 2003). "Shock wave; Nolan, Ford overwhelm Rockers". Detroit Free Press.
11. (September 20, 2003). "Cavs owner dumps WNBA's Rockers". Detroit Free Press.
12. Guerrieri, Vince. (2023-11-24). "Why Did the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers Leave 20 Years Ago? Largely, LeBron James".
13. (December 27, 2003). "Cleveland Rockers are out of business". The Charlotte Observer.
14. "Cleveland Rockers".
15. (2025-06-30). "WNBA's 16th Franchise Coming to Cleveland, OH".
16. (2025-06-30). "WNBA Announces Expansion to Historic 18 Teams with New Teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia".