Portlanders celebrate the WNBA's Rose City return
"Not only does the city support women's sports, but basketball is also in Portland's blood," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Wednesday.
www.bizjournals.comHere’s a concise update on the latest news about the Portland WNBA team.
- Portland is set to host a new WNBA expansion franchise, with the team planned to begin play in 2026 at Moda Center. This marks Portland’s return to the league after a long hiatus.[1][2]
- The expansion group is led by RAJ Sports and is purchasing the franchise for about $125 million; the group also owns the Portland Thorns. The announcement emphasized Portland’s strong support for women’s sports and basketball specifically.[2]
- Local coverage highlighted the significance for Portland’s sports culture and community, including plans for a dedicated practice facility and potential collaborations with local brands.[3][2]
Illustration: A timeline of events shows the 2024 expansion announcement, ownership details, and the 2026 start date, with Moda Center as the home arena.
If you’d like, I can pull more detailed articles or provide a quick timeline with key dates and quotes from local officials. I can also set up a brief news brief daily or weekly digest for Portland WNBA developments.
Sources:
- "WNBA heads back to Portland" (The Media Leader)[1]
- "Portlanders celebrate the WNBA's Rose City return" (Portland Business Journal)[2]
- KGW coverage and related Portland reporting (news clips)[3]