Amid a surge in popularity, the WNBA grants an expansion team to Portland.
This season, the league experiences unprecedented growth, with Caitlin Clark leading the charge.
A third expansion team has been granted to Portland, Oregon, following a season of remarkable growth in the WNBA.
The expansion team revives women's basketball in Portland, where a previous franchise, the Fire, folded after three seasons.
The 15th franchise in the league will be owned and operated by RAJ Sports, which is led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. The Bhathal Family, co-owners of the Sacramento Kings and controlling owners of the Portland Thorns of the NWSL, are also involved in this venture.
"The WNBA's growth is being built upon, and bringing a team back to Portland is another crucial step forward, according to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a press release. Portland has been a hub of the women's sports movement and has a dedicated community of basketball fans. The Bhathal family's vision of leading top-level professional sports teams will ensure that the area receives a premier WNBA team."
The franchise will continue to play at the Moda Center, home of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, while a new practice facility is constructed for the team.
In 2026, the Portland team will make its debut alongside the Golden State Valkyries and Toronto franchise.
The growth of the WNBA, led by Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, has resulted in the league's expansion from 12 to 15 teams.
The former Iowa star and college basketball shooting sensation, Clark, has continued to break personal records while promoting women's basketball. The Fever's average attendance of nearly 17,000 leads the WNBA, and 10 of their games have set league TV viewership records, many in front of sellout crowds.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend will be held in Indianapolis for the first time, as announced by the league just last month.
"The WNBA and women's basketball are experiencing a pivotal, transformational moment in history, and Indiana will be the focal point of it all during the next season's All-Star Game. As CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Mel Raines stated in a press release that leaders across the community will welcome fans from around the world to Indiana, raise the bar for future host cities, and leave a lasting legacy for the city and state."
The WNBA has signed a landmark media rights deal with the Walt Disney Company, Amazon Prime Video, and NBCUniversal, which will run through 2036. Additionally, the league has formed a multi-year partnership with Delta Air Lines, making it the official airline partner of the WNBA.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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