Portland’s WNBA expansion team confirms name, league prepares for 5 new teams by 2030

Photo Credit: Portland Fire

The fire is reignited in Portland, Oregon, as the city’s Women’s National Basketball Association expansion team will readopt the Portland Fire moniker, honoring Portland’s original WNBA team. Along with the team name, a logo depicting a fiery rose for the Rose City was unveiled on Tuesday morning.

“As a city that has long championed women’s sports, Portland is ready to reclaim its place in the WNBA and reignite its connection to the game on the world stage,” said Clare Hamill, Portland Fire Interim President. “We are thrilled to complete the journey of bringing professional women’s basketball back to the Rose City, while honoring the legacy of the original franchise to blaze a new, bold path forward.”

A city inspired by tradition, the branding was kept close to home, with Adopt, a Portland-based brand and creative agency, taking charge of the process. Paired with the “Rose on Fire” logo, Adopt created a wordmark inspired by the city’s 12 bridges, bringing the community and the team together.

This is the second coming of the Portland Fire. The original Portland Fire WNBA team played from 2000 to 2002 before folding when the NBA sold all WNBA teams to NBA teams or independent owners. The then-owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, declined to buy the team from the NBA, leading to the team disbanding. The original team never made the WNBA playoffs and folded with a 37-59 all-time record.

"Our feeling is that the fire never died," Hamill said. "Fans have been waiting for us to come back, and we're back with the Portland Fire."

Portland was awarded the 15th expansion franchise in WNBA history last year. The team is owned by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage of RAJ Sports, who also purchased the Portland Thorns, Portland’s National Women’s Soccer League team, in 2024.

Earlier this year, RAJ Sports announced plans for a first-of-its-kind women’s sports training facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. The world’s first dual-sport women’s performance center will be shared by the Fire and Thorns, with the goal of becoming the epicenter for women’s sports, training, recovery, and wellness.

“Portland has long stood at the forefront of women’s sports, and with nearly 11,000 season ticket deposits to-date, this community has made it clear they’re ready to embrace the return of women’s professional basketball,” said Lisa Bhathal Merage. “We’re proud to reignite the Portland Fire and can’t wait to welcome new and longtime fans to the Moda Center in 2026.

“When we acquired the Portland Thorns and the Portland WNBA franchise, our family committed to investing into the Thorns, the WNBA franchise, and the Portland metro region. Building an innovative training facility that provides the best possible environment for our athletes across professional soccer and professional basketball will be a game-changer for women’s sports. Our goal is to create the most inclusive and welcoming environment for our athletes, staff, supporters, fans, partners and community as we strive to be an elite organization on the field, on the court, and in the community.”

As Bhathal Merage said, the team has close to 11,000 season ticket deposits, putting the franchise on pace to set a league record. The Fire will play at the Moda Center in downtown Portland, also the home of the Trail Blazers.

The Fire aren’t the only expansion team joining the WNBA in 2026, with the Toronto Tempo, the league’s first Canadian-based team, also beginning play next season. The league’s 14th franchise introduced the Tempo branding in early December 2024.

On Monday, June 30, the WNBA announced major expansion news, awarding teams to three new cities - Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Cleveland will enter the league in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. By the time the Philadelphia expansion franchise tips off in 2030, the WNBA will have expanded to 18 teams, with more likely on the way.

“The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball. I am deeply grateful for our new owners and ownership groups… for their belief in the WNBA’s future and their commitment to building thriving teams that will energize and inspire their communities. We are excited for what these cities will bring to the league – and are confident that these new teams will reshape the landscape of women’s basketball.”