WNBA Expands By Awarding Franchise To Portland Set To Begin Play In 2026

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The WNBA has announced that Portland will receive an expansion team, set to start playing in 2026. This addition brings the league to 15 teams, with Portland joining the California Bay Area and Toronto as new franchises. The Golden State Valkyries will begin in 2025, while Portland and Toronto follow the next year.

The Bhathal family will own and manage the new Portland team, having invested $125 million in the franchise. Lisa Bhathal Merage will be the controlling owner and WNBA Governor, with Alex Bhathal as Alternate Governor. "For decades, Portland has been the global epicentre of sports lifestyle and today, we are now the global epicentre of women's sports," said Lisa Bhathal Merage.

Lisa Bhathal Merage expressed excitement about bringing women's sports to Portland, stating they aim to grow alongside the community. She added that they look forward to supporting top women's basketball players at the Moda Center in 2026. The Bhathals also own the National Women's Soccer League's Portland Thorns and have investments in the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

Portland previously hosted a WNBA team called the Fire, which ceased operations after three seasons in 2002. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert highlighted this return as a significant step amid a season of remarkable growth for the league. "Portland has been an epicentre of the women's sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans," she noted.

Cathy Engelbert also mentioned that pairing Portland's enthusiasm with the Bhathal family's leadership would ensure a top-tier WNBA team for the area. In April, Engelbert stated that expanding to 16 teams by 2028 is a goal for the league, though another franchise addition before 2027 seems unlikely.