Portland’s bid for a WNBA expansion franchise has been deferred after it had previously emerged as the likely candidate for the league’s next team.
Portland was believed to be well on its way to joining Golden State as an expansion franchise, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne last month, though plans had not been finalized. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters after the Golden State announcement in early October that the goal was to add a second expansion franchise, with both beginning play in the 2025 season.
However, in a letter obtained by ESPN on Wednesday from Engelbert to Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, Engelbert wrote, “in light of the potential renovation of the Moda Center currently anticipated to take place during consecutive summers, consideration of a WNBA franchise for Portland will be deferred for now until the timing and scope of the arena improvements are settled.”
The Moda Center is home to the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. While…
