Portland lands WNBA expansion franchise set to play in 2026
Professional women’s basketball will return to the Rose City for the first time in more than two decades after the WNBA announced Wednesday that it has awarded Portland an expansion team that will begin play in 2026.
Commitment to build practice facility helped Portland secure 15th WNBA franchise
Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, the brother-sister duo who recently purchased the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, are the WNBA’s newest owners.
WNBA awards Portland an expansion franchise that will begin play in 2026
The WNBA is headed back to Portland, with Oregon’s biggest city getting an expansion team that will begin play in 2026.
WNBA announces expansion team in Portland, league’s 15th franchise
The WNBA is expanding to Portland by granting the league’s 15th franchise to the city. The team, which was announced Wednesday, will begin play in 2026 and be led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal,
The WNBA Announces New Expansion Team In Portland
BREAKING: The WNBA is officially returning to Portland. The league has announced the city will earn a new expansion franchise, owned and operated by RAJ Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. Play will tip off in 2026. pic.twitter.com/MsPACL2zIB
Portland, Oregon Awarded WNBA’s 15th Franchise
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced today that it has awarded Portland, Oregon, the league’s 15th franchise.
Portland newest home to WNBA with expansion team starting play in 2026
Portland had a previous WNBA team, the Fire, which played for just two seasons and folded in 2002. It’s not yet decided if the new franchise will keep that name or get a new one. The team will play at the Moda Center, also home to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Portland's WNBA expansion franchise will begin play in 2026
The team will be owned and operated by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. They paid $125 million for the franchise.
WNBA to bring team back to Portland, Oregon
Portland was awarded the 15th WNBA franchise and will be the third expansion team entering the league over the next two years, along with San Francisco and Toronto.
Herald and News15h
As WNBA arrives, Portland hailed as ‘epicenter of women’s sports’
As Portland celebrated the return of professional women’s basketball to the Rose City, there was one common refrain — the ...
Gallery: WNBA, fans celebrate Portland's new pro basketball team
Merage spoke about the yet-to-be-named team as an investment not only in the league, but in the local Portland community, ...
Inc2d
Portland, a Hub of Women's Sports, Gets New WNBA Franchise
The team will be owned and operated by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, who also own the ...
Herald and News15h
As WNBA returns, Portland hailed as ‘epicenter of women’s sports’
As Portland celebrated the return of professional women’s basketball to the Rose City, there was one common refrain — the ...