The WNBA has announced a new expansion team in Portland as the sport continues to enjoy a boom inspired by players like Caitlin Clark.
Women’s basketball has seen a huge surge in popularity and attendance thanks to the rise of star players including Clark and Angel Reese.
On Wednesday, the WNBA announced that a new team in Portland, Oregon, would become the league’s 15th franchise.
The city previously had one franchise, the Fire, which entered the WNBA in 2000 before folding after the 2002 season.
This new team, whose name has not yet been confirmed, will begin playing in the WNBA in 2026.
The WNBA has announced an expansion team in Portland as the sport continues to boom
This comes after the league expanded from 12 franchises with the Golden State Valkyries and a team in Toronto.
“Over the past several months, the league has added its most anticipated rookie class; signed a groundbreaking new media rights agreement; and broken records for viewership, attendance (and) merchandise sales,” the statement said.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert added: ‘As the WNBA navigates a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another important step forward.
‘Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans.’
The team will be owned and controlled by RAJ Sports, which will be led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. They already own the majority ownership of the NWSL’s Portland Thorns.
Engelbert said: “Combining this energy with the Bhathal family’s vision of leading world-class professional sports teams will ensure we deliver a world-class WNBA team to the Portland metropolitan area.”
This is the first time the WNBA will return to a city it has already left, while Engelbert said ESPN The league is “on track” to add a 16th franchise by 2028.
