The Cleveland Rockers were one of the eight original franchises when the WNBA started in 1997. Cleveland played until 2003 when the team folded because they could not find any new ownership. The Rockers made the playoffs in four of our seven seasons. Here is the Cleveland Rockers all-time starting five:
Center Chasity Melvin
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The Rockers drafted Chasity Melvin in the 1999 WNBA Draft. She was the 11th pick of the first round. She played for the Rockers for five seasons and averaged 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Melvin made the All-Star team in 2001 when she scored 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Power Forward Eva Nemcova
Drafted with the fourth pick of the 1997 WNBA Draft, Eva Nemcova was a staple on the Rockers’ front line. She played all of her five WNBA seasons in Cleveland. Nemcova was never an All-star, but she did make first-team All-WNBA in 1997 and second-team in 1998. The Power Forward averaged 11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 44% from the field, and 40% from three in her five seasons.
Small forward Penny Taylor
Penny Taylor is known for her time with the Phoenix Mercury, but she started her career with the Rockers. Taylor spent three years with the Rockers and made the All-Star team in 2002. Taylor averaged 10.8 points a game with the Rockers before heading to Phoenix.
Shooting Guard Merlakia Jones
Merlakia Jones was outstanding in her time with Cleveland. The shooting guard was drafted in the second round in the 1997 WNBA Draft. Jones made the All-Star team three straight seasons from 1999-2001. Jones also made first-team All-WNBA in 2001 when she scored 13.5 points and grabbed 5.5 rebounds per game.
Point Guard Michelle Edwards
At the point guard is Michelle Edwards, who came to the Rockers in the 1997 Allocation Draft. Edwards averaged 8.1 points and just over two assists per game in her time with the Rockers.
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