The Bhathal family, which also owns the Portland Thorns, pointed to the city's passionate support for women's sports as evidence of future success in "The W."

The WNBA will bring a professional women's basketball team to Portland in 2026. The league announced its 15th team and its third recent expansion team Wednesday morning. The new team will play in Moda Center and will be owned and operated by RAJ Sports,

The WNBA is growing from 12 teams to 15 with the additions of Golden State (in 2025) as well as Toronto and Portland in 2026.

Former WNBA star Jackie Stiles discusses the league's decision to bring women's basketball back to Portland. Sports Seriously Sports Seriously

The WNBA is headed back to Portland, with Oregon's biggest city getting an expansion team that will begin play starting in 2026

The WNBA is returning to Portland, Oregon, starting in 2026, with the new franchise set to become the WNBA’s 15th team, the league announced Wednesday.

"As the WNBA builds on a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another important step forward," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated in a press release. "Portland has been an epicenter of the women's sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans.