WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Portland to become WNBA's 15th franchise in 2026

By Zach Wadley | Last updated Sep 18, 2024 2:54 PM ET

The WNBA is headed to the City of Roses.

Portland was awarded the WNBA's 15th franchise, the league announced Wednesday. The franchise, which will begin play in 2026, is led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, the owners of the National Women's Soccer League's Portland Thorns.

The team will play in the city's downtown arena, the Moda Center, which is also home to the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers.

“We believe in the transformative power of women’s sports and are thrilled that the W will call Portland home,” Lisa Bhathal Merage said in a statement. “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 @WNBA's 15th team calls the Rose City home.

#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/7Qqf0igffW
— WNBA Portland (@wnbaportland) September 18, 2024

Portland has been at the forefront of the women's sports explosion over the past several years, making it an ideal destination for the WNBA to expand.

The Thorns ranked second in average attendance per game in the NWSL in 2022 and third in 2023. The Oregon women's basketball team ranked 14th in the nation in average attendance for the 2022-2023 season. Away from the court, The Sports Bra, the famous Portland sports bar, only plays women’s sports on its TVs.

This is the second WNBA team to call Portland home. In 2002, the Portland Fire folded after three seasons, but times have changed. Propelled by an influx of young talent, including Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, the league has set attendance and television records this season.

The league is not done expanding. Toronto and the Bay Area have also been granted franchises, and a 16th franchise will also be named.

In April, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert named Philadelphia, Denver, Nashville and South Florida as places the league is exploring as options. Charlotte, N.C. is also in consideration for the next team, according to The Athletic.

As the league soars to new heights, the Rose City will be the newest member of the movement.

Zach Wadley

Zach Wadley's sportswriting career began at the age of 12 when he started covering Little League games for his local newspaper. Since then, he's worked in the sports information field where he merged his love of writing, social media, and broadcasting. He is a graduate of Anderson University (IN).

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