Donovan Mitchell believes the time is now to share the Land with another professional basketball squadron for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While in Florida at the IMG Academy for the Cavs training camp, Mitchell has spoken candidly about his love for the city of Cleveland. He mentioned that it is great finally to feel at home after signing his max extension this summer. Since his arrival to the Cavaliers in 2022, Mitchell has fallen in love with the city and its sports culture – showing up to Cleveland Browns games both on the field pre-game and in the Muni Lot with a crowd of fans.
Mitchell wants to be in Cleveland; this isn’t just a show from him. On the court, he has given what he could to the franchise since day one and grew into a perfect leader for this generation of Cavaliers basketball. During media day, Mitchell recalled a conversation with his mom in which he expressed a love for the city shortly after the blockbuster trade from the Utah Jazz.
Most recently Mitchell gave the public another reason to appreciate his presence in town. After practice at training camp, Mitchell told the media he believes that Cleveland should welcome a return for the Cleveland Rockers, one of the original eight teams of the WNBA which went defunct in 2003. Mitchell said “Cleveland definitely deserves a WNBA team. Cleveland is a perfect sports city for it.”
Further, Donovan said he would gladly be part of the franchise.
“I would love to be part of that [franchise in Cleveland] for sure if that ever happens. It’s been great basketball. It’s become more national. I feel like us as players, we’ve been there from the jump. I think it’s great that the world is finally starting to see what we all see.”
– Donovan Mitchell, per Cleveland.com
Currently, there are three major league sports teams in Cleveland with the Browns, Cleveland Guardians, and Cavs. The Cleveland Mosters-known as the Lake Erie Monsters-also compete in the AHL at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, along with a handful of other minor league teams spread across the greater Cleveland area.
Why Cleveland is the perfect city for the next WNBA franchise
The league expanded to 15 teams after expansions to Portland, San Francisco and Toronto. “I love the competition that’s in the WNBA,” Mitchell said. “It’s cool to see that people are starting to finally pay attention.” The league saw record numbers this season, with a star-studded rookie class headlining plenty of great veteran stars.
A return to Cleveland wouldn’t be a first for the WNBA, as Portland initially was home to the Fire from 2000-02, and other former cities are more realistic destinations for the next expansion of the WNBA. Though the league hopes to add the 16th franchise in 2028, Cleveland is perfectly positioned to prove it’s the place the franchise belongs.
Not only has Cleveland proven to love basketball with the Cavaliers and the endless support the organization receives, but the city will potentially welcome a professional women’s soccer team soon, as well. An entire large stadium is going to be built in downtown Cleveland with the express purpose of bringing an NWSL franchise to the city in a historic move by local business owners.
There may not be a city more ready to adopt any kind of elite athletic talent than Cleveland. Throughout the state, fan bases love their professional teams, but Cleveland’s identity has always been built through athletics. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, several athletics and medalists call northeast Ohio and Cleveland home, including two-time women’s pole vault medalist Katie Moon.
While there have been no reported discussions with the league office to return the Cleveland Rockers, Mitchell’s comments are what could spark the conversation to give the Land a chance to bring another franchise back home.
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