Don't freak out just yet, but WNBA Portland has a bit of a mess brewing behind the scenes. On Thursday The Oregonian reported the team's president Inky Son, who was hired in April, was fired — and owners RAJ Sports gave little by way of an explanation other than, "As a matter of company policy, we don’t comment on personnel matter."
The update would be dramatic under the best of circumstances, but borders on surreal considering the team is set to debut its brand identity on July 15, just ahead of WNBA All-Star. The team is already months behind the Toronto Tempo; both teams are expected to participate in Expansion Drafts later this year.
Inky Son was welcomed by Portland's ownership earlier this year
By all intents and purposes, Son was celebrated by brother-sister co-owners back in April, but there has been little fanfare since. In its reporting, The Oregonian also noted the young franchise has experienced "growing pains" and a "rocky rollout."
Golden State Valkyries aside, expansion teams have typically struggled when joining the WNBA. The Tempo and Portland could end up providing windows into two very different expansion team experiences. The Tempo announced the team's name and brand identity back in December, just ahead of the Valkyries' Expansion Draft — and a full 18 months before the team will hit the court for the first time.
In addition to the loss of Son, the Oregonian noted the franchise only recently hired support staff and is still operating without a general manager — another factor that could hinder Portland's progress. Golden State named Ohemaa Nyanin GM in May 2024 — seven months before the team's draft — and introduced Natalie Nakase as head coach in October of the same year.
The Tempo named Monica Wright Rogers GM in February of 2025.
The owners might be too disconnected
Part of the problem could be that the team's owners, Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, don't live in Portland. RAJ Sports acquired WNBA Portland and the city's professional women's soccer team, the Thorns, last year, but both Blathal and Blathal Merage live in California. RAJ Sports are also investors in the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento RiverCats, and the Stockton Kings.
The news arrived a day after WNBA Portland announced over 10,000 season ticket deposits have been made, a clear indication that there are fans who want to support the team in the city.