“Is Portland’s Dream of a WNBA Team Finally Becoming a Reality?”
Yesterday, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert made her way to Portland, igniting rumors and excitement about the city’s potential to host a WNBA team once again. 20 years ago, Portland said goodbye to its beloved WNBA team, the Portland Fire, after three seasons of play. Despite their record of only 37 wins in 96 games, the Fire were a fan favorite, drawing in over 8,000 spectators per game at the Rose Garden. Unfortunately, financial struggles with the Portland Trail Blazers led to then-owner Paul Allen declining to purchase the Fire, ultimately leading to its folding.
But now, the city’s passion for women’s sports, demonstrated through its support of the Portland Thorns and college women’s basketball programs, hasn’t gone unnoticed. Engelbert’s visit to participate in a panel discussion about women’s sports in Oregon has fueled speculation of WNBA expansion into Portland. The roundtable, moderated by The Sports Bra owner Jenny Nguyen, will feature key players in the Oregon women’s basketball community and representatives from the Portland Trail Blazers and Portland Thorns.
Senator Ron Wyden, who has been advocating for a WNBA team in Portland for some time, was thrilled to welcome Engelbert to the city. He referred to Oregon as an “epicenter for women’s sports,” and emphasized the success a WNBA team would have in the Moda Center. Engelbert herself acknowledged Portland’s support for women’s sports and confirmed that the city is actively being considered for WNBA expansion.
In fact, rumors have been circulating for some time that billionaire Kirk Brown is leading a bid to bring a WNBA team to Portland, with support from the city and the Portland Trail Blazers. With the league’s desire for fan support, ownership, and infrastructure, and Portland ticking all the boxes, the city is certainly in the running for WNBA expansion. Engelbert has previously stated her intentions to add a couple of teams to the league, with plans for them to start playing as early as 2024.
So, as Portland fans eagerly await the announcement, one can’t help but wonder: is the city’s dream of hosting a WNBA team finally becoming a reality?
