Cleveland WNBA Names Progressive® as Founding Partner and Sole Jersey Patch Sponsor

CLEVELAND – Cleveland WNBA today announced Progressive Insurance® as its second Founding Partner and the first multiyear partner in WNBA history to claim both the chest and abdomen placements on a team’s jersey. The Ohio-based insurance leader becomes the team's official and exclusive insurance partner and will focus on extending its presence from the court to the community as the franchise prepares for its inaugural season at Rocket Arena in 2028.

As the signature element of the partnership, Progressive becomes the team's official and only jersey patch partner. The chest and abdomen placements will feature Progressive branding throughout the term of the sponsorship, a landmark commitment for the league.

“Partnering with Progressive and making league history shows what’s possible when two Cleveland brands invest fully in each other, in women’s professional sports and in the community we call home,” said Allison Howard, President of Business Operations, Cleveland WNBA. “When we make our debut in 2028, the Progressive name will live boldly on our jersey, carrying the best of Cleveland to the world and building a legacy of pride in our city.”

Beyond the court, Progressive and Cleveland WNBA will introduce an annual community impact program that expands and builds each year. The inaugural initiative will benefit transitional housing organizations in the surrounding community to expand opportunity and access for women, children and families across Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Western New York. The program extends the partnership's presence beyond gameday and deepens its connection to the community.

“As a company that supports and champions women, prides itself in being headquartered in Cleveland and believes deeply in giving back to our communities, we’re thrilled to begin our multi-year commitment to the Cleveland WNBA who embodies these same values,” said Mari Pumarejo, Chief Marketing Officer, Progressive. “Our dynamic leadership duo of female CEO and Chairperson of the board, illustrates our commitment to women at the highest level and inspires us to follow the example set by our CEO Tricia Griffith in investing in our community, and women’s sports, as she has done by personally investing to bring women’s soccer to our hometown through the Cleveland Astra, the first women’s pro soccer team in Cleveland. When professional women’s basketball returns to Cleveland, we’re proud to have the Progressive brand displayed on the team’s jerseys and in our hometown.”

In addition to the jersey patch partnership and annual community program, Progressive will serve as presenting partner for an annual theme night at Rocket Arena beginning with the team’s inaugural season in 2028, complete with a fan giveaway each season.

For Cleveland WNBA business, team news, community updates and more information, fans can follow @ClevelandWNBA on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and subscribe to text alerts by texting WCLE to 30594. 

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ABOUT CLEVELAND WNBA

Cleveland WNBA is the 16th franchise in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team, operated by Rock Entertainment Group, will begin play in the 2028 season at Rocket Arena, downtown Cleveland’s premier 19,000-seat venue, which is also home to the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. Cleveland WNBA will train at their own dedicated and premier 52,000-square-foot performance center in Independence, Ohio. The Cleveland WNBA is a part of Rock Entertainment Group, the umbrella entity for the sports and entertainment properties under Chairman Dan Gilbert’s ROCK Family of Companies. Nic Barlage serves as the CEO of Cleveland WNBA, Rocket Arena and Rock Entertainment Group, and Allison Howard leads Cleveland WNBA as President of Business Operations.

ABOUT PROGRESSIVE

Progressive Insurance^® makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance, home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however it's most convenient for them — online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent.

Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is a leading seller of personal auto, commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers in the United States.

Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price^®, Snapshot^®, and HomeQuote Explorer^®.

The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR.

Media Contact:

Daijha Johnson
Cleveland WNBA & Rock Entertainment Group
Djohnson@cavs.com

Mike Ferrari
Progressive Insurance
Michael_r_ferrari@progressive.com