History of Portland Fire in Timeline

The Portland Fire is an upcoming WNBA team based in Portland, Oregon, scheduled to begin playing in May 2026 at the Moda Center. This marks the return of the WNBA to Portland since the original Portland Fire team. The new franchise will compete in the Western Conference.

2000: Portland Fire WNBA team existed

In 2000, the city's first WNBA team, the Portland Fire, played.

2002: Portland Fire Folded

In 2002, the city's first WNBA team, the Portland Fire, folded.

February 2023: WNBA commissioner visits Portland

In February 2023, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert visited Portland for an event at The Sports Bra, co-hosted by US senator Ron Wyden, along with personnel from the Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Thorns FC, and Oregon and Oregon State's women's basketball teams.

October 2023: Portland WNBA team plans fall through

In October 2023, plans to award a WNBA team to Portland with tech billionaire Kirk Brown as the owner fell through. Brown withdrew his bid due to disagreements over team branding and a potential conflict of interest regarding his ownership stake in Shoot 360. The issue left the potential team without the required $50 million expansion fee.

2023: Bhathals began conversations with the WNBA

In 2023, Lisa and Alex Bhathal began conversations with the WNBA about bringing a team to Portland, after the previous attempt fell apart.

July 2024: Černivec served as the Golden State Valkyries' Vice President of Basketball Operations

Since July 2024, Vanja Černivec served as the Golden State Valkyries' Vice President of Basketball Operations.

September 18, 2024: Portland awarded WNBA franchise

On September 18, 2024, Portland was officially awarded a WNBA franchise, becoming the league's 15th team. The team will be owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage and her brother Alex Bhathal via RAJ Sports, who paid $125 million for the franchise.

February 2025: Joint practice facility announced

In February 2025, RAJ Sports announced a joint practice facility between the Fire and the Thorns in Hillsboro. The initial phase will cost US$75 million with the overall cost being US$150 million.

July 15, 2025: Team name announced

On July 15, 2025, the team announced that it would be named the Portland Fire, reviving the name of the original WNBA team.

2025: Černivec oversaw the 2025 WNBA draft

In 2025, Vanja Černivec played a pivotal role in building the Golden State Valkyries franchise from the ground up, leading the scouting department through the 2025 WNBA draft.

May 2026: Scheduled start of play for Portland Fire

In May 2026, the Portland Fire are scheduled to begin play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member of the Western Conference. They will play their home games at Moda Center.

2026: Practice facility completion expected

In 2026, completion of a training facility designed specifically for women athletes is expected in time for both the Portland Fire and Thorns' seasons.