WNBA Expands to Portland, Announcing them as 15th Franchise

The WNBA has officially announced Portland as the home of its 15th franchise, set to debut in the 2026 season. This marks the third team in the league’s current expansion efforts, following the Golden State Valkyries, who will begin play in 2025, and a new Toronto franchise debuting alongside Portland in 2026. Portland previously hosted the WNBA’s Portland Fire, which was shut down after just two seasons in 2002.

The new Portland team will play its home games at the Moda Center, located in downtown Portland, which also serves as the home of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Fans can already place deposits for season tickets at WNBA.com/portland, signaling early excitement for the team’s return to the city.

The @WNBA‘s 15th team calls the Rose City home.

🌹🏀 #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/7Qqf0igffW

— WNBA Portland (@wnbaportland) September 18, 2024

The franchise will be owned and operated by RAJ Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, who bring over 50 years of experience in professional sports. The Bhathal family’s sports portfolio includes investment in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and ownership of the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, a team known for its strong fan support. With their deep roots in both basketball and Portland’s sports scene, RAJ Sports aims to build a successful and community-driven WNBA franchise.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised Portland as a natural choice for expansion: “Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans. Pairing this energy with the Bhathal family’s vision of leading top-flight professional sports teams will ensure that we deliver a premier WNBA team to the greater Portland area.”

In recent years, the WNBA has seen record-breaking growth, with increased viewership, a surge in corporate sponsorships, and higher engagement across digital platforms. As the league continues to build on this momentum, the Portland franchise is expected to tap into the city’s strong support for women’s sports, driven by successful teams like the Portland Thorns. With Portland’s established basketball fanbase, anchored by the Trail Blazers, the WNBA plans to leverage the city’s existing infrastructure and enthusiasm to build a strong following for its newest franchise.

Despite the optimism surrounding the expansion, some observers have raised concerns about the WNBA’s ability to maintain its high level of competition as the league grows. Adding more teams naturally increases the demand for talent, and there are questions about whether the talent pool can keep pace with the league’s expansion. However, the WNBA has been proactive in investing in player development, both domestically and internationally, to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled athletes entering the league. 

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