CLEVELAND, Ohio — Rock Entertainment Group (REG) and the Cleveland WNBA franchise have announced the appointment of Allison Howard as the team’s first president. Howard will oversee all business operations and drive the strategic vision for the expansion team, which is set to debut in the 2028 WNBA season at Rocket Arena.
Howard previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for REG and the Cleveland Cavaliers, where she led corporate and ticket sales strategy, partnerships, membership services, venue experience, and youth sports programming.
“Allison comes to this role with an extraordinary track record of leadership in premier sports organizations and expanding the reach of women’s sports,” Rock Entertainment Group, Cleveland Cavaliers and Rocket Arena CEO Nic Barlage said. “Under Allison’s leadership, we will redefine what it means for a professional team to be woven into the fabric of its city, accelerating the movement that is now propelling women’s basketball to new heights.”
In her new role, Howard will lead efforts in culture development, community engagement, fan experience, commercialization, and ticketing.
She emphasized the team’s inclusive mission, saying, “We’re building the most inclusive brand in sports. Together starts now.”
Howard’s sports leadership experience includes serving as the inaugural president of the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League, where she oversaw the team’s expansion, secured major sponsorships, and drove a 300% increase in partnership revenue.
Joining Howard’s leadership team are two key hires:
* Kiersten Green, named Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service, brings seven years of experience with the Cavaliers and recently led the franchise to a record-breaking year in group sales.
* Tamzin Barroilhet, appointed Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Commercial Strategy, previously led Global Sports Marketing at Under Armour.
Cleveland was announced as the WNBA’s 16th franchise on June 30, 2025. The team has already received over 6,000 initial membership payments. Fans can reserve a future membership with a $28 deposit at WNBACleveland.com.
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