The WNBA has experienced a great surge of growth over the past few seasons across many categories including ratings, attendance, exposure and overall popularity.
That growth has been accompanied by expansion, with the league adding San Francisco and Toronto as the 13th and 14th franchises. On Wednesday, the league added a 15th team as the deal with Portland was finally announced.
The @WNBA's 15th team calls the Rose City home.
— WNBA Portland (@wnbaportland) September 18, 2024
???????? #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/7Qqf0igffW
The team, which begins play in 2026, will be led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, who own the Portland Thorns of the NWSL.
It was the culmination of a back and forth process that initially involved discussions with wealthy businessman Kirk Brown. But after those discussions fell apart, the Bhathal family jumped in and sealed the deal.
“We believe in the transformative power of women’s sports and are thrilled that the W will call Portland home,” said Lisa Bhathal Merage. “We know that Portland’s vibrant and diverse communities will highly support and rally around this team. Our goal is to grow this organization in partnership with the Portland community and we look forward to supporting the best women’s basketball players in the world when they take the floor at the Moda Center in 2026.”
The Moda Center is the home of the Portland Trailblazers.
The announcement of a Portland franchise adds another team to the sports-rich state, which includes the Trailblazers, Thorns, Oregon Ducks, Oregon St. Beavers, and G League team, Rip City Remix.
But it also marks a return of the WNBA to the city, as it once was home to the Portland Fire (2000 – 2002). Owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the team played in the league for three seasons before folding due to financial losses.
Now that the WNBA has finalized its 15th franchise, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert has eyes on a new city for its 16th franchise.
We say that city must be Philadelphia.
