Back with Fire! Portland Fire Returns to the WNBA
The WNBA expansion team in Portland, known as the Fire, has announced its return and will begin competing in 2026. The franchise is resuming the name that identified the city’s team between 2000 and 2002.The team’s logo design is inspired by the 12 bridges that connect the city from east to west. One logo, a red “P”, features the silhouette of Mount Hood, the highest point in Oregon. The other logo is a flaming rose, a nod to Portland’s iconic flower and the team’s name. The aesthetic of the flame extends through the shapes of the letters, inspired by the curved line of the roof of the Moda Center, the team’s home stadium. The Fire will join the league next season, along with the expansion team Toronto Tempo. However, they have not yet announced a coach or a general manager. Team president Inky Son left the organization last month after less than three months in office. Despite this, there is enthusiasm surrounding the return of a WNBA team to Portland. The organization has announced that it has surpassed 10,000 deposits for season tickets. Portland was awarded the league’s fifteenth expansion team last year, under the leadership of Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage of RAJ Sports.As a city that has long championed women’s sports, Portland is ready to reclaim its place in the WNBA and reactivate its connection to the game on a global level. We are thrilled to complete the journey of bringing professional women’s basketball back to the City of Roses, honoring the legacy of the original franchise to chart a bold new path forward.
Clare Hamill, Interim President of Portland
In addition to the Tempo, the WNBA will add three more expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia in 2028, 2029, and 2030.Portland has been at the forefront of women’s sports for a long time, and with nearly 11,000 season ticket deposits to date, this community has made it clear that it is ready to embrace the return of professional women’s basketball. We are proud to reactivate the Portland Fire and can’t wait to welcome new and long-standing fans to the Moda Center in 2026.
Lisa Bhathal Merage
