WNBA Reignites in Portland: Fire Return in 2026 as League's 15th Team

“That rose icon represents the fire that burns in the passion of this city,” Portland Fire interim president Clare Hamill said to The Oregonian/OregonLive. “It is a clear nod to the Rose City, and all the beauty and strength that comes with that. The petals begin as flames and reach high.”

The Fire originally debuted in 2000 but folded just three seasons later when the league contracted from 16 to 13 teams. Now, over two decades later, the franchise has been resurrected.

“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 said. “Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans”

The Fire will play home games at the Moda Center––also home to the NBA’s Trail Blazers––and fan response has been overwhelming. The franchise stated that the they have already exceeded 10,000 season ticket deposits.

"Portland has long stood at the forefront of women's sports, and with nearly 11,000 season ticket deposits to date, this community has made it clear they're ready to embrace the return of women's professional basketball," owner Lisa Bhathal Merage said in a statement. "We're proud to reignite the Portland Fire and can't wait to welcome new and longtime fans to the Moda Center in 2026."

With the Fire and Tempo set to join the league in 2026, the WNBA’s growth isn’t slowing down—Cleveland is on deck for 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. The hype surrounding league is hot, and the Portland Fire are only turning up the heat.