On September 18, 2024, the WNBA announced that Portland would be awarded a new WNBA franchise. The new franchise is expected to be part of the WNBA by the 2026 season. The new Portland franchise will be the league’s 15th franchise. The franchise will add a new tale to an already storied basketball city by joining the NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Portland franchise will be owned by RAJ Sports, which is led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. This group already has stakes in the NWSL’s Portland Thorns and they have investments in the Sacramento Kings which will add another sports franchise to the region.

“We believe in the transformative power of women’s sports and are thrilled that the W will call Portland home…” Lisa Bhathal Merage said regarding her excitement about being the owner of the new WNBA franchise.

This will be Portland’s second WNBA franchise. The Portland Fire was a WNBA franchise from 2000-2002, but due to financial issues, the team had to close which ended Portland’s time in the WNBA, until now.

The new franchise plans on having their games at the Moda Center in 2026, which is where the Portland Trail Blazers play.

The WNBA is giving life back to an old home to a WNBA with a new franchise in Portland. The league is in a good place right now and the league is adding a storied basketball city and a team back to the area. It is safe to say that the 2026 season is one that will certainly be a historic and exciting one with Portland being back in the WNBA.