THE FRANCHISE HUB · ORIGINAL TEAM ARCHIVE

FRANCHISE FOOTPRINTS

Original names. Lasting records. Complete franchise stories. Follow every charter identity that closed, moved or changed names without losing the history it earned.

CHA StingCLE RockersHOU CometsSAC MonarchsUTA Starzz

READ THE TRAIL

A familiar city is not always the same franchise.

This archive separates the record earned by an original team from the history of a later expansion or relocated team. When a league or team formally reconnects an earlier identity, that designation is noted too.

Closed branch

The original franchise ceased operations. Its record stays here unless a later official designation carries it forward.

Continuing franchise

The same organization moved or changed names. Follow the link forward.

Returning market

A city returns through a new or relocated franchise, with the exact history treatment labeled case by case.

THE ORIGINAL IDENTITIES

Pick up the trail.

Open a card to jump directly to that team's preserved record, highlights and franchise connections.

ARCHIVE · 1997 TO 2006CHACHARLOTTESTING10 SEASONS6 PLAYOFF TRIPS→ ARCHIVE · 1997 TO 2003CLECLEVELANDROCKERS7 SEASONS4 PLAYOFF TRIPS→ DYNASTY FILE · 1997 TO 2008HOUHOUSTONCOMETS12 SEASONS4 CHAMPIONSHIPS→ CHAMPIONS · 1997 TO 2009SACSACRAMENTOMONARCHS13 SEASONS2005 CHAMPIONS→ CONTINUING LINE · 1997 TO 2002UTAUTAHSTARZZ6 UTAH SEASONS→ LAS VEGAS ACES→
Historical logo references: SportsLogos.Net ↗ · BeBasket archive ↗ · Utah Starzz logo archive ↗
CLOSED BRANCH

1997 to 2006

Charlotte Sting

The Sting turned an original East market into a six time playoff team and reached the 2001 WNBA Finals after a dramatic late season climb.

10seasons
143–179regular season
6playoff trips
1Finals appearance

Highlights left behind

  • Won the 2001 Eastern Conference championship.
  • Reached the playoffs in six of the franchise's ten seasons.
  • Helped establish Charlotte as one of the league's original basketball homes.

Names in the foundation

Andrea Stinson, Dawn Staley, Vicky Bullett, Charlotte Smith and Allison Feaster.

Charlotte historical record ↗
CLOSED BRANCH

1997 to 2003

Cleveland Rockers

Cleveland paired elite defense with a 22 and 10 breakthrough season in 2001, earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

7seasons
108–112regular season
4playoff trips
22–10best season

Highlights left behind

  • Earned the Eastern Conference's top seed in 2001.
  • Made four playoff appearances across seven seasons.
  • Built one of the league's defining early defensive identities.

Names in the foundation

Eva Němcová, Merlakia Jones, Chasity Melvin, Suzie McConnell Serio and Jennifer Rizzotti.

Cleveland historical record ↗
THE CITY RETURNS · THE RECORD DOES NOT TRANSFERCleveland Sirens, beginning in 2028

The Sirens are a new expansion franchise. The Rockers' statistics and achievements remain with the original team.

Meet the Cleveland Sirens →
ORIGINAL DYNASTY · RETURNING NAME

1997 to 2008 · returns 2027

Houston Comets

The league's first champions became its first dynasty, winning the first four WNBA titles and setting a standard the rest of the league had to chase.

12original seasons
241–149original regular season
9playoff trips
4championships

Highlights left behind

  • Won four consecutive championships from 1997 through 2000.
  • Produced the league's first regular season MVP and first Finals MVP.
  • Finished the original run with a .618 regular season winning percentage.

Names in the foundation

Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Kim Perrot and coach Van Chancellor.

Houston historical record ↗
HOUSTON RETURNS IN 2027 · CONNECTICUT SUN RELOCATIONTwo history trails meet under the Comets name

The operating franchise moving to Houston began as the Orlando Miracle and became the Connecticut Sun. Houston's official return announcement also states that the original Comets' records and history will carry forward into the new chapter. We Know the W tracks both trails rather than erasing either one.

2027 Comets hub →2026 Sun hub →Official Comets announcement ↗
CLOSED BRANCH

1997 to 2009

Sacramento Monarchs

The Monarchs turned pressure defense, depth and continuity into one of the league's most dependable early era contenders.

13seasons
224–200regular season
9playoff trips
1championship

Highlights left behind

  • Won the 2005 WNBA championship over Connecticut.
  • Returned to the WNBA Finals in 2006.
  • Reached the playoffs nine times, including six consecutive trips from 2003 through 2008.

Names in the foundation

Yolanda Griffith, Ticha Penicheiro, Ruthie Bolton, Rebekkah Brunson and DeMya Walker.

Relive the 2005 title ↗
CONTINUING FRANCHISE

Utah chapter, 1997 to 2002

Utah Starzz

The original Utah identity is retired, but its franchise is still active. The line runs through San Antonio and lands with today's Las Vegas Aces.

6Utah seasons
87–99Utah record
2playoff trips
1conference finals

Highlights from the Utah chapter

  • Reached the playoffs in 2001 and 2002.
  • Won the franchise's first playoff series in 2002, defeating Houston.
  • Advanced to the 2002 Western Conference Finals.

Names in the foundation

Margo Dydek, Natalie Williams, Adrienne Goodson, Jennifer Azzi and coach Candi Harvey.

Official franchise history ↗
SAME FRANCHISE · NEW CITIES AND NAMESUtah Starzz → San Antonio Silver Stars and Stars → Las Vegas Aces

The Aces carry this franchise line forward. The Utah record stays visible as its own chapter inside the complete lineage.

Continue to the Las Vegas Aces →

STILL ON THE ORIGINAL HOME COURT

Three charter teams never left town.

Los Angeles, New York and Phoenix continue in their original markets, keeping an unbroken hometown trail from 1997 to today.

LOS ANGELESSparksOriginal market →NEW YORKLibertyOriginal market →PHOENIXMercuryOriginal market →
Record desk: WNBA History ↗ · League formation ↗ · Aces franchise lineage ↗
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