On Tuesday evening, the Cleveland Cavaliers saw their historic 15-game winning streak to open the season come to an end with a tough loss to the Boston Celtics on the road. The Cavs got down big early in this one but clawed their way back admirably, ultimately falling by a final score of 120-117.
Despite the loss, the Cavs’ hot start has lit the Northeast Ohio sports world on fire, and evidently, that traction has turned into momentum on Cleveland potentially acquiring a WNBA expansion team.
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s umbrella company, Rock Entertainment Group, intends to submit a proposal for a WNBA expansion team, per Jessica Golden of CNBC.
“We have this unique convergence of infrastructure, culture and these foundational pieces that we think make Northeast Ohio, and specifically Cleveland, a great opportunity to expand from a WNBA perspective,” Nic Barlage, Cleveland Cavaliers CEO, said in a statement to CNBC.
The WNBA is reportedly looking to expand to 16 teams by the 2028 season, per Golden.
Basketball fever is certainly at the highest level in Cleveland since LeBron James left for Los Angeles six summers ago. Cavs star Donovan Mitchell has continued to play like an MVP candidate to open up the 2024-25 season, but it’s been the increased production out of costars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley that have been a key culprit in the Cavs’ hot start. Combine this with unexpected production from bench players like Ty Jerome and others, and the Cavs figure to have one of the, if not the, deepest team in the NBA this year.
In any case, the Cavs will look to get back in the win column on Wednesday evening at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on the second leg of a back to back. That game is slated to tip off at 7:30 PM ET.
