What Happened to Portland Fire?
The Portland Fire, a professional women's basketball team, originally competed in the WNBA from 2000 to 2002 before folding due to ownership changes. After a 22-year hiatus, the franchise was officially revived in September 2024 under new ownership, RAJ Sports, and began its second era of play in May 2026, rekindling a strong local passion for women's sports.
Quick Answer
The Portland Fire, a WNBA team, ceased operations in 2002 but made a highly anticipated return to the league in May 2026. The expansion franchise, owned by RAJ Sports, played its inaugural game of the new era on May 10, 2026, at the Moda Center, drawing a sellout crowd. As of late May 2026, the team is actively competing in its first revived season, making roster adjustments and building its new identity.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline11 events
Original Portland Fire WNBA Team Founded
The Portland Fire was established as an expansion franchise in the Women's National Basketball Association, beginning its inaugural season.
Original Portland Fire Team Folds
After three seasons, the Portland Fire ceased operations when then-Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen declined to purchase the team following a change in WNBA ownership structure.
WNBA Commissioner Visits Portland
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert visited Portland for an event, signaling the league's interest in bringing a team back to the city.
Initial Expansion Bid for Portland Announced
The WNBA was set to award a team to Portland with tech billionaire Kirk Brown as the planned owner, though this bid was later withdrawn.
Inky Son Hired as Team President, Training Facility Groundbreaking
Inky Son was hired as the team's president, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new 63,000-square-foot training facility for women athletes.
WNBA Files Trademarks for 'Portland Fire' Name
The WNBA filed trademarks for the 'Portland Fire' name, leading to speculation that the revived team would adopt the original moniker.
Season Ticket Deposits Exceed 10,000
The new Portland WNBA franchise surpassed 10,000 season ticket deposits, demonstrating strong community support even before the team's official name or roster were finalized.
Clare Hamill Named Interim President
Following the firing of Inky Son earlier in June, former Nike executive Clare Hamill was named interim president of the Portland WNBA team.
Portland Officially Awarded WNBA Franchise
Portland was officially awarded the WNBA's 15th team, owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal via RAJ Sports, with the team set to begin play in 2026.
Portland Fire Play Revival Season Opener
The expansion Portland Fire took the court at the Moda Center for their WNBA season opener against the Chicago Sky, marking their return after 24 years with a sellout crowd of 19,335.
Roster Adjustments Made by Portland Fire
The Portland Fire waived forward Haley Jones and guards Kamiah Smalls and Sug Sutton, converted Frieda Bühner and Holly Winterburn to standard contracts, and activated guard Teja Oblak.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The original Portland Fire was established as a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise in 2000, playing for three seasons. Despite averaging around 8,000 fans per game, a respectable attendance for the league at the time, the team folded in 2002. This decision came after the WNBA transitioned team ownership from the league to affiliated NBA teams or independent owners, and then-Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen declined to purchase the Fire, citing financial reasons. The team never qualified for the playoffs during its initial run, and its disappearance left a void for many local fans.
For over two decades, Portland remained without a WNBA team, though the city maintained a strong connection to basketball and a significant following for women's sports, exemplified by the success of the Portland Thorns FC. The WNBA began exploring expansion in the early 2020s, with Portland emerging as a strong candidate. In February 2023, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert visited Portland, signaling serious interest. While an initial bid with tech billionaire Kirk Brown as the planned owner was set to be awarded in October 2023, it was later withdrawn.
The turning point came on September 18, 2024, when Portland was officially awarded the WNBA's 15th franchise. The team was acquired by Lisa Bhathal Merage and her brother Alex Bhathal via RAJ Sports, who also own the Portland Thorns, for an expansion fee of $125 million. Lisa Bhathal Merage serves as the controlling owner and WNBA Governor. The new ownership committed to building a dedicated 63,000-square-foot training facility for women athletes, with sections for the Fire and Thorns expected to be completed by their respective 2026 seasons.
Preparations for the 2026 season intensified. In April 2024, Inky Son was hired as team president but was fired in June 2024, with Clare Hamill named interim president on June 27, 2024. The WNBA filed trademarks for the 'Portland Fire' name in June 2024, leading to speculation that the original name would be revived, which was later confirmed. The team quickly garnered significant local support, surpassing 10,000 season ticket deposits by June 26, 2024.
CURRENT STATUS (as of 2026-05-28): The Portland Fire officially began their revived WNBA season on May 10, 2026, playing their home opener against the Chicago Sky at the Moda Center, which was dubbed the 'Fire Pit' for the occasion. The game was a sellout with an announced attendance of 19,335, demonstrating immense fan enthusiasm despite a loss. The team's players warmed up in shirts proclaiming 'Legacy Reignited' and '2002 PDX 2026', acknowledging their history. Recently, on May 21, 2026, the Fire made several roster moves, waiving forward Haley Jones and guards Kamiah Smalls and Sug Sutton, converting Frieda Bühner and Holly Winterburn to standard contracts, and activating guard Teja Oblak. The team is actively competing in its inaugural season of the new era, aiming to establish a strong presence in the league and build upon Portland's reputation as a hub for women's sports.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Portland Fire made different choices?