Cleveland WNBA names Allison Howard president for 2028 expansion

Rock Entertainment Group has appointed Allison Howard as the first president of Cleveland's new WNBA franchise, which will begin play in 2028. Howard, currently EVP and chief commercial officer for REG and the Cleveland Cavaliers, will continue in her current role through the 2025-26 NBA season before fully transitioning to lead the WNBA team’s business operations and community engagement. This marks Howard’s second time leading an expansion women's sports team, having been the inaugural president of the NWSL’s Kansas City Current, where she significantly grew partnership revenue and fan engagement. Cleveland’s WNBA team will play home games at Rocket Arena and practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts, with an emphasis on building a distinct, inclusive brand embedded in the local community. REG CEO Nic Barlage highlighted Howard's leadership as vital to integrating the team into Cleveland's sports fabric and accelerating women's basketball growth. The franchise is part of REG’s sports portfolio, which includes the Cavaliers, Charge, and Monsters, and the league plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030.