The wait is almost over. Portland’s WNBA team is set to announce its official name, colors, and branding in the coming months.
The city and fans around the league are buzzing about what direction the team might take.
Since the league’s official Portland expansion announcement in September 2024, one of the biggest questions from fans has been simple: “What’s the Portland WNBA team name going to be?”
While nothing’s confirmed yet, the team has publicly stated that fan input will help shape the new team's brand.
That means now is the perfect time to break down some of the top contenders for team names and cover the basics of when we can expect the official reveal.
Why the Portland WNBA Team Name Matters
Team names aren’t just for logos and merch (though we're excited to get our hands on that, too). A strong name is what helps an athletic organization define their team culture, connect with the community, and build national recognition.
This is especially true in a league like the WNBA, where new expansion teams don’t come around often. The name needs to stand out... but it also needs to feel like Portland.
Portland isn't the only city with a new team joining the league in 2026, but they're the only one that is still unnamed. The other 2026 expansion team is the Toronto Tempo, and their name launch might be a part of why Portland's management has been so patient with their own naming process.
The Tempo's name announcement came in December of 2024, and was disorganized and a bit confusing. The team name was listed on the WNBA website before it was even officially launched, resulting in fan confusion and, ultimately, receiving mixed reviews.
It's certainly fair to wonder whether that less-than-stellar reveal made the Portland ownership group reconsider their name, branding, and launch plans. They got to see a team that pulled the trigger quickly and seemingly without fan input... and it didn't go well.
Now, Portland's ownership group seems to be striving to do the opposite.
When Will the Portland WNBA Team Name Be Announced?
The ownership group—RAJ Sports and the Bhathal family—has hinted that the team name and branding will be revealed in Spring 2025. The timing gives the owners plenty of time to make a measured decision about the name while still giving fans a full year to rally around the identity before the team takes the court in May 2026.
Insiders expect the name to drop around the start of the 2025 WNBA season this month, which makes a lot of sense. Portland's WNBA team can leverage the existing excitement around women's basketball and make sure they're a part of the national conversation about the WNBA during that early season buzz.
Top Contenders for Portland WNBA Team Name
Let’s examine some of the names we’ve seen floated in fan chatter and community polls. We'll share the possible names and then analyze the pros, cons, and everything in between.
🔥 1. Portland Fire (Revival)
Pros: A direct callback to Portland’s original WNBA team (2000–2002). Built-in nostalgia, plus “Fire” fits Portland’s rugged, resilient identity.
Cons: The name may be tied up in old trademarks, and the original team only lasted three seasons, which might feel like bad luck. Ownership might want a clean slate. It's worth noting Portland also has some brutal wildfire seasons and, you know, global warming in general, so it might not be the best name in today's world.
Vibe: Retro-cool, instantly recognizable. But again, it could be a downer when considering, you know, the whole wildfire thing.
🌲 2. Portland Pines
Pros: A nod to Oregon’s iconic forests and the Pacific Northwest vibe. It’s unique, local, and still sounds relatively strong and hardy.
Cons: The full-on nature energy of the name could be seen as a bit too gentle for a pro sports team. Overall, the Pines would need a badass logo to give the name some edge.
Vibe: Earthy, proud, nature-powered.
🌊 3. Portland Tide
Pros: Bold, explosive energy. Sticks with Portland tradition of professional sports teams beginning with the letter "T," (Trailblazers, Timbers, Thorns).
Cons: Slightly dramatic? Arguably a tiny bit cheesy? But it has the drama and uniqueness to stand out league-wide.
Vibe: Energetic, headline-worthy.
💀 4. Portland Reign / Rain
Pros: This naming convention is a popular theme in women’s sports. The double meaning is clever, calling on both rain for Portland weather and reign for ruling the court.
Cons: This one has already been done by our close neighbors up in Seattle with the Seattle Reign FC, which makes it feel a little derivative. Overall, we're not sure this one is the winner.
Vibe: Sleek, modern, with a Pacific Northwest twist.
🐺 5. Portland Wild
Pros: Feels untamed, unpredictable, and aggressive, exactly what you want in a new team. This one would also be really easy to brand and has endless logo potential.
Cons: Not super Portland-specific on its own. The ownership group would need to tie it to local wildlife or themes with the logo and mascot for this to really feel local.
Vibe: Raw, bold, ready to hunt.
👟 6. Wildcard: Portland Sole
Pros: This name has been floated a few times and would be a sneaker-themed nod to Portland’s global reputation as the home of Nike and Adidas.
Cons: Might be too niche or confusing to fans unfamiliar with our city's athletic-shoe-related backstory.
Vibe: Trendy, edgy, with room for some slick merch.
What Do We Want the Portland WNBA Team Name to Do?
Here at PDX Bounce, we think the winning name should check at least three boxes:
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Represent Portland: Whether that’s the city’s culture, geography, or spirit, the name shouldn't just be cool, it should feel like us.
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Stand Out Nationally: This team will be one of just 14 others in the league. The name needs to stand out on a jersey and in headlines to make sure Portland's WNBA presence is one to watch, not just locally but nationwide.
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Can't Feel Too Girly or Cheesy: We hope this isn't necessary to even call out. You only get one first impression. If the name feels too flowery or corny... we riot.
Final Thoughts: Our Take
We’re not going to lie, we aren't sure how to feel right now.
It's probably going to be impossible to top the Portland Thorns team name and branding, no matter what the final pick is. (We hope they prove us wrong!)
To us, it feels too late to revert to the Portland Fire. Waiting this long to reveal the name just to go back to the old one feels like a major letdown. Of course, we may be surprised and the name may be one that hasn't even been publicly floated by polls or fan posts! If we had to choose from this list of six, our top pick would be Portland Tide.... but it's by no means a landslide in our mind. Let's hope we're all pleasantly surprised!
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