Merage spoke about the yet-to-be-named team as an investment not only in the league, but in the local Portland community, adding that they intend to create jobs and wealth for those who work on or for the team.

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

The WNBA continues to see historic growth this season, announcing Wednesday that Portland will see the return of a women's basketball team in 2026.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert had previously named Philadelphia as a potential expansion city. But with three new expansion cities announced since last year, could time be running out for Philadelphia?

The City of Roses is getting a WNBA franchise in two years. Coincidentally, Oregon is currently home to a booming girls basketball scene. The No. 3 recruit in ESPN’s class of 2025 — Clackamas’ Jazzy Davidson — comes from The Beaver State.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said the team’s return to Portland is a sign of the city’s “unequivocal love of women’s sports,” citing the success of the Portland Thorns and the Rose City Rollers. Read online