The WNBA is set to add two more teams ahead of the 2026 season: the Toronto Tempo and an as-yet unnamed Portland team... or perhaps the more appropriate phrasing is an "as-yet unofficially named" Portland team, because Trail Blazers reporter Sean Highkin might have let the cat out of the bag. On Thursday, Highkin revealed the league recently filed three trademarks related to the Portland Fire, which certainly sounds like a name that belongs in the WNBA.
"The WNBA has filed three new trademark applications related to the Portland Fire," Highkin wrote. "It would appear that the expansion team will be returning to the name the Portland WNBA franchise used from 2000 to 2002."
The WNBA has filed three new trademark applications related to the Portland Fire. It would appear that the expansion team will be returning to the name the Portland WNBA franchise used from 2000 to 2002. pic.twitter.com/zeU8miW0PM
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) June 19, 2025
As Highkin pointed out, the name is a blast from the past.
The Portland Fire played from 2000-2002
The original Portland Fire joined the league in 2000 as a branch of the Trail Blazers but was owned by the WNBA. As such, the teams were meant to co-exist and thrive together.
The Fire did not have a strong opening season and closed out with a 10-22 record. The addition of rookie guard Jackie Stiles boosted the team temporarily, but though Stiles won Rookie of the Year, the Fire went down with an 11-21 record the following year. The team concluded its third and final season with a 16-16 record, and remain the only WNBA team that's ever folded without making the playoffs.
At the end of the 2002 season the WNBA required teams to be owned by their NBA counterparts or independently; Fire owner Paul Allen, who also owned the Trail Blazers, declined the opportunity to buy the Fire.
The new Portland team will be different
The new Portland team is owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of RAJ Capital. She's also the sister of Alex Bhathal, the co-owner and Executive Director of Sacramento Basketball Holdings (who own the Sacramento Kings), which will offer an interesting look into the question of whether or not WNBA teams benefit from sharing ownership groups with NBA teams — the Portland team will be the only one in the WNBA that has such ties to an out-of-state NBA team. Her brother will also serve as Governor for the Portland WNBA team.
Lisa is also the Governor of the Portland Thorns (NWSL).
An Expansion Draft will be held this year
Like the Valkyries in 2024, the Portland team and the Tempo will hold Expansion Drafts after the 2025 season concludes. The format will be the same: teams will be allowed to protect a set number of players, and the rest will be up for grabs. Both teams will also be able to take advantage of next year's period of free agency, when the majority of the league will be available.