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Sometimes going ahead means going back in time, and that’s exactly what the WNBA portland extension franchise has done this week.
The WNBA announced Tuesday that the extension franchise will be named Portland Fire, taking up the name of the previous WNBA franchise which played in Portland from 2000 to 2002.
“Our feeling is that the fire is never dead,” said interim president Clare Hamill. “The fans were waiting for us to come back, and we are back with the fireland fire.”
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WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal, poses a photo for a press conference announcing that Portland received a WNBA extension franchise on September 18, 2024, at Moda Center in Portland, Ore. (Cameron Browne / NBAE via Getty Images)
In addition to the name, the team has a new “Rose on Fire” logo and a palette of colors of red, brown, blue and pink.
“As a city that has long defended female sports, Portland is ready to recover its place in the WNBA and rekindle its link with the game on the world scene,” said Hamill in a statement. “We are delighted to finish the trip to bring back professional women’s basketball to the city of Rose, while honoring the heritage of the original franchise to open a new bold path.”
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Jackie Stiles of Portland Fire went to the basket in a match against the De Detroit shock on June 15, 2002, at Pink Garden in Portland, Ore. (Sam Forencich / Wnba / Getty images)
Portland received a WNBA team in September. The team is directed by Raj Sports, which also has the Portland thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League.
The fire and thorns will share a new joint training complex in the first partnership of this type between the two female leagues.
Tully Bevilaqua (4) discussions on Portland fires with Demya Walker (22) and his teammates during a match against the Phoenix Mercury on August 11, 2002, at Pos Garden in Portland, Ore. (Sam Forencich / Wnba / Getty images)
The fire has already sold more than 11,000 season tickets for the 2026 season, exceeding the best previous WNBA. The team will play Moda Center, where the original fire was on average about 8,000 fans per game.
The fire is not the only team that the WNBA presents to the League next season. The Toronto tempo will also start playing in 2026.
