Portland returns to the women’s basketball league WNBA as a location, the team will start as Portland Fire as before. A team from Canada is also added.
From 2000 to 2002 Portland Fire played in the league. “Portland Fire. Reborn” is the slogan to return the team. “As a city that has long been committed to women’s sports, Portland is ready to recapture its place in the WNBA,” said Clare Hamill, Interim President of Portland Fire.
The logo shows a burning rose, the flames are based on the roof shape of the Moda Center, home of the team.
League will be expanded to 18 teams by 2029
In addition to Portland, Toronto is added as the first Canadian franchise. In 2026, the league is increased from 13 to 15 teams, the medium -term goal is a league of 18 teams. Cleveland follows in 2028, Detroit and Philadelphia become numbers 17 and 18.