Portland Fire Returns to WNBA

Sometimes, looking to the future means revisiting the past, and that’s precisely what the WNBA’s new Portland expansion franchise did this week.

On Tuesday, the league announced that the franchise would be called the Portland Fire, reviving the name of the previous team that existed in the city from 2000 to 2002. “Our sentiment is that the fire never extinguished,” said interim fire chief Claire Hamill. “Fans have been eager for our return. We’re back in the Portland fire.”

Along with the name revival, the team unveiled a new logo, dubbed “Rose on Fire,” along with a color scheme featuring red, brown, blue, and pink.

Hamill expressed enthusiasm about the team’s return, stating, “Portland has always been a strong advocate for women’s sports, and we’re excited to rekindle our link to the game globally. This is our opportunity to bring professional women’s basketball back to Rose City while forging new paths in honor of the original franchise’s legacy.”

The expansion team was officially awarded to Portland in September. Raj Sports, which also owns the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League, will operate the team.

In a notable collaboration, the Fire and Thorns will share a state-of-the-art training complex, marking a first between the two women’s leagues.

Already, the Fire has seen impressive interest, selling more than 11,000 season tickets for the 2026 season, breaking the previous WNBA record. They are set to play at the Moda Center, where the original Fire averaged around 8,000 fans.

Portland’s return isn’t the only change to look forward to, as the league is set to introduce the Toronto Tempo in 2026 as well.