Cleveland's WNBA expansion franchise has a new name – the Sirens.
The name for the new franchise, debuting in 2028, was announced in Cleveland on Tuesday, Aug. 4. For Cleveland basketball fans, it was notable that the Dan Gilbert-owned franchise will not be using the same color scheme or branding as the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers despite sharing the same ownership.
But for Detroit basketball fans, Cleveland's new name may have even bigger implications – notably, that the WNBA team coming to Detroit in 2029 may not be named the Shock.
The copyright for "Detroit Shock" – the name of the three-time WNBA championship team that played in Detroit from 1998-2009 (and is currently playing as the Dallas Wings) – is owned by Detroit native Ryan Reed, the owner
and president of the still-to-debut Women's Basketball League.
“When I first came up with the WBL, it was back in 2019," Reed told the Free Press in 2025. "And the popularity still wasn’t there. So I figured it’s a way to bring back some nostalgia. In a way, get back to what a lot of us miss."
Here's where the Sirens come in – Reed also owned the trademark to the name "Cleveland Rockers," the name of the WNBA franchise that played in Cleveland from 1997-2003. And while it's not clear if the new Cleveland expansion franchise chose a different name because of the trademark dispute, it may not bode well for fans who want a Detroit Shock revival in 2029.
Reed had discussions with the WNBA in 2025 about relinquishing the rights to the name, but neither side offered details beyond that. And if the league doesn't acquire the rights soon, it's possible Detroit's WNBA franchise will reveal a brand-new name before 2029.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sirens' call: Latest sign WNBA might lose Detroit Shock name for good
