As the WNBA has grown in popularity over the last few years, the league has taken action to expand from 12 teams to 15 by the 2026 season. The WNBA has previously announced the Golden State Valkyries joining next season, and a team in Toronto the following season, yet to be nicknamed. Now made official, the league has added a 15th team in Portland, Oregon, after prior discussions to add them fell through. Portland was selected among the many cities to choose from, but they stand out due to their unwavering support for women’s sports for many years prior.
Many factors go into selecting an expansion city, including marketability. Portland established its marketability when ‘The Sports Bra’, a bar solely dedicated to women’s sports, opened in April 2022. This bar has been home to many watch parties for high-profile women’s sporting events, including the WNBA Finals, and the NCAA Tournament. During the 2023 college season, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight were played in Portland. Over 12,000 fans attended the events, while many others filled the bars around the area like The Sports Bra and Spirit 77. The City also hosts the Portland Thorns, an NWSL club that has won multiple championships. They are among the league leaders in attendance, recently averaging over 18,000 fans per match during the 2023 season. Portland has proven through its women’s sports attendance and marketability that the city deserves consideration for a WNBA team. However, their bid last October failed due to multiple reasons including the timing of the arena improvements to the Moda Center (previously the Rose Garden). This led to the previously reported founder, Kirk Brown, pulling out of the project. When all hope seemed lost, a new ownership group stepped up to help overcome the obstacles that would get a WNBA team in Portland.
Many high-profile individuals want to invest in the league, but they also want to invest in expansion. The Bhathal family, who recently purchased the Thorns, will reportedly lead the ownership group for a new WNBA team in Portland. The team should be able to play their home games at the Moda Center, but if the previously scheduled renovations aren’t complete, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum next door will host their games. The Moda Center, host of the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA, holds nearly 20,000 people, possibly more after renovations. While the Veterans Memorial Coliseum only holds 12,000 people, the hope is the arena will serve as a ‘plan b’ for Portland’s home games. Portland previously had a team from 2000-2002, nicknamed the ‘Portland Fire’, and while the name hasn’t been determined for the 2026 team, it’s possible the previous name resurfaces. The team would be in a good position for an expansion team, as the talent pool will grow entering the expansion draft, and the official WNBA draft.
With each team in the league allowed to have 12 players on a roster, there are many talented players who deserve to be on a team. An expansion team added 12 more spots, which gives those players a chance to play in the league. In addition, expansion teams are able to choose players from current WNBA rosters who aren’t protected. The amount of players to protect and the deadline for current teams to choose them have yet to be determined before the 2025 expansion draft. From the college game, the league will be welcoming stars like Juju Watkins (USC) and Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), and Audi Crooks (Iowa St.) the same year that Portland will begin play. The two expansion franchises will be in a good position to compete with the rest of the league right away, which will help grow the league even further. The WNBA will not stop at 15 teams, as the previously spoken goal by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was to expand the league to more by 2030. As the league expands to Portland, Oregon, the growth has been evident and will continue to shape the direction of women’s basketball.
