Portland Women's Basketball: Then and Now

With all the buzz around Portland's WNBA team launching in 2026, everyone's talking about the future. 

We get it — we’ve been doing the same thing.

But before we start planning championship parades, let's take a step back and look at Portland women’s basketball as a whole.

Portland didn't just randomly get awarded a WNBA franchise. This city has been building toward this for decades, creating a women's basketball culture that runs from youth leagues all the way up to college powerhouses. We've had Final Four teams, championship-level professional sports, and a community that genuinely shows up for women's athletics.

But we've also had some tough lessons along the way. The original Portland Fire taught us exactly what happens when you don't invest properly in women's sports. So, as we count down to 2026, let's dive into the full story of women's basketball in Portland. 

Portland Women’s Basketball: The Portland Fire (2000-2002)

Portland’s first WNBA experience wasn’t exactly a masterclass in how to launch a pro basketball team. 

The Portland Fire launched in 2000 during the WNBA's chaotic early expansion era, when the league was throwing teams at markets and hoping something would stick. Paul Allen, already dealing with his underperforming Trail Blazers, treated the Fire like an afterthought. The team played at the Rose Garden (now Moda Center) but felt more like tenants than headliners.

That original roster had potential, though. 

Vanessa Nygaard and Sylvia Crawley brought veteran leadership, but the real story was Jackie Stiles. The 2001 Rookie of the Year was everything Portland basketball fans could want: a scrappy scorer who'd rewritten the NCAA record books at Southwest Missouri State. 

Then injuries destroyed Stiles' career, and everything went downhill from there. 

But injuries weren’t the only thing that brought down the original Portland Fire. Limited marketing, minimal community outreach, and zero financial commitment were also responsible for the failure. When the WNBA restructured in 2002, Allen walked away without a second thought. 

The Fire's collapse showed that women's sports franchises need more than just an NBA owner's spare change. They need genuine investment, community engagement, and owners who believe in the product.

Portland and Women’s Sports

The Fire taught Portland a lesson about supporting women’s sports, and with the Portland Thorns, we’ve shown we were paying attention.

From their first match, they packed Providence Park with record-breaking crowds that made the rest of the NWSL look amateur. Three championships and a ton of sell-out crowds later, the Thorns have proved that Portland is a city capable of dominating in women’s sports. 

Then, The Sports Bra opened in 2022. A bar exclusively showing women's sports sounded like a niche concept… until you see the packed house every single night. Now they're expanding nationwide, taking that Portland enthusiasm for women’s sports across the country. 

Between the Thorns and The Sports Bra, we’ve got a solid foundation for successful professional women’s sports… but what about basketball, specifically?

For the answer to that question, let’s take a look at our college teams. In short, Oregon is absolutely stacked when it comes to women’s college basketball. 

• University of Oregon: The Ducks are consistent competitors with Nike money behind them. They last made it to the Final Four in 2017, but they’ve been strong contenders every year. 

• Oregon State: The Beavers are continuous contenders in the PAC-12 and a consistent presence in March Madness. 

Aside from the two main players, smaller schools in Division III and NAIA all field women’s basketball teams. The passion for women’s basketball is strong in Portland! Youth programs are strong, and we’re building a state-wide basketball-smart fanbase who understands the game and is excited to see it played on a professional level.

The New Era of Portland Women’s Basketball

Potential name aside, this new team isn’t The Fire 2.0. Instead, our new Portland WNBA team promises to be something completely different — and better. 

Let’s take a look at some of the early signs we’re scoping out. 

1. Ownership That Actually Cares

RAJ Sports and the Bhathal family didn't just buy a basketball team; they made an investment. 

Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal already proved they know how to build championship-level women's sports with the Thorns. Now they're dropping $125 million on a WNBA franchise, which is more than double what most expansion teams cost. 

Clare Hamill stepping in as interim president brings serious corporate firepower. With a Nike executive at the head, we’re getting a pro who understands how to build brands that matter… and she’s got the corporate and athletic connections she needs to make great things happen.  

2. Infrastructure Built for Champions

The infrastructure decisions the Bhathals have made so far show that this ownership group thinks decades ahead, not just seasons. 

Playing at Moda Center gives them a massive venue with 19,000+ seats and an established partnership with the Trail Blazers. But the real power move is the $150 million joint training facility with the Thorns in Hillsboro. 

This isn't just another practice gym. They’ve built the first facility in the country designed specifically for women athletes. Our WNBA team won’t be a tenant in an NBA practice gym; they’ll have a facility built just for them. 

3. Early Ticket Deposits

Portland’s new WNBA team has over 10,000 season ticket deposits before they’ve even announced the team name. That’s showing some serious demand.

Corporate sponsors are already circling, and the community buzz feels like Thorns-level excitement from day one.

Paul Allen treated the Fire like a side project. The Bhathals are treating this like their legacy. And all signs are pointing toward this being an incredible comeback story for Portland women’s basketball. 

The Future of Portland Women’s Basketball

I think Portland is about to shatter all expectations the WNBA has for an expansion franchise. It might take us a season or two to find our sea legs, but once we do, we’ll be unstoppable. 

This team is setting themselves up to break attendance records in year one, turning the Pacific Northwest into the premier WNBA region and making Seattle sweat a little. Within three years, we think Portland will be in playoff contention, and the rest of the league will be studying our blueprint for building a championship-caliber franchise from scratch.

So, what’s next for fans? 

Get hype, we’re building a championship culture in this city. Seats are filling up fast, corporate sponsors are lining up, and it feels like the eyes of the entire world of pro women’s sports is on us. 

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