Portland Awarded 15th WNBA Team: What’s Next for the Rose City?। USA TODAY NEWS

Description:
🏀 Portland to Welcome 15th WNBA Team in 2026! 🏀
Portland, Oregon is buzzing with excitement as the Moda Center hosted a grand celebration marking the announcement of Portland's new WNBA franchise, set to debut in 2026. The event highlighted the city's growing sports scene and its commitment to providing top-notch facilities for its new team.
Key Highlights:
Ownership: The WNBA team will be owned by Alex and Lisa Bhathal Merage, who recently acquired the NWSL’s Portland Thorns. They’ve committed to building a state-of-the-art practice facility for the WNBA team and a new training center for the Thorns.
Expansion: Portland joins Golden State and Toronto as the newest cities to receive a WNBA franchise, with all three teams scheduled to start play in the next few years.
Facilities Arms Race: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stresses the importance of high-quality facilities in attracting top talent, as teams across the league invest heavily in their infrastructure.
Historical Context: This will be Portland's second WNBA team, following the Portland Fire's brief run from 2000 to 2002.
Local Excitement: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, a passionate basketball fan, predicts great success for the team and expects a boost to the local economy. There's also speculation about Sabrina Ionescu potentially joining the Portland team, adding to the excitement.
Stay tuned for more updates on Portland's new WNBA franchise and the latest news from the world of women's professional sports!
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Portland Awarded 15th WNBA Team: What’s Next for the Rose City?। USA TODAY NEWS