The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) will return to Portland in 2026 for the first time since the Portland Fires two-season stint in 2002 then ended due to financial reasons.

The new team will begin in the 2026 season and will play in the Moda Center, though there are concerns about how they will play due to planned renovations that may begin as soon as 2029.

Many students are excited about Portland having a WNBA team and are curious about the official team name, what the expansion draft will be like, and other specifics.

Marcus Hansen, a sophomore basketball player, says he is ecstatic about the new WNBA team coming to Portland. He hopes to see a new community of WNBA fans develop as well as the Blazers’ fan base to unite and support the new team.
“I’m hoping it’s [the relationship between the Blazers and the WNBA team fans] pretty close, I’m hoping that Portland’s sense of basketball community kind of links together,” said Hansen.

Many people believe that the WNBA coming to Portland will positively impact future generations by inspiring female athletes.

Caroline Souza is a recreational basketball player in her early twenties. She’s looking forward to having more teams to root for and says she’s very aware of some WNBA players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

“I think it is important for young girls to see professional women at the highest level,” said Souza.

As the tipoff for the WNBA in Portland nears, the buzz keeps growing.
To stay updated follow the official WNBA social media, and keep tabs on the official WNBA website.