Cleveland WNBA Names Cleveland Clinic as Third Founding Partner and Official Hospital and Sports Medicine Provider

July 29, 2026

Cleveland WNBA today named Cleveland Clinic as its third Founding Partner. The multiyear partnership establishes Cleveland Clinic as the team’s official and exclusive hospital and sports medicine provider, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing women’s sports, youth development and community health across Northeast Ohio and the broader region.

Cleveland Clinic will bring its world-renowned expertise in sports performance, injury prevention and women’s health to athletes across the region and the team, which tips off its inaugural season in 2028. Cleveland Clinic will present the franchise’s ELITE program, a year-round youth basketball platform for girls across Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Western New York. Under the guidance of WNBA-trained youth coaches, participants will train core skills like dribbling, shooting and passing in real game situations, while learning the accountability, resilience and composure the sport demands.

The program also builds lasting friendships, sparks creativity and connects girls with mentors who share what it takes to compete at the next level. Cleveland Clinic will develop and implement ELITE’s injury prevention programming and support the platform with experts in mental health, recovery and sports medicine. To date, Cleveland WNBA has hosted 40 all-girls clinics across Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Western New York, reaching nearly 3,500 young female athletes. BYTESEU