"His heart was always there in Portland, his family lives in Portland" - Kendrick Perkins believes Damian Lillard never 'mentally left' the Blazers originally appeared on Basketball Network.

Oregon’s WNBA team stepped back in time for its new name, reintroducing the Portland Fire. The expansion franchise, which begins play next next season alongside the Toronto Tempo, announced its name a

Portland’s forthcoming WNBA expansion team, set to begin play in summer 2026, unveiled its name and logo Tuesday morning. The Fire will call the Moda Center home with new branding under the ownership of RAJ Sports — the same group led by Lisa Bhathal Merage which purchased the Portland Thorns in 2024.

July 15, 2025 (Portland, OR) – Today, Portland’s WNBA expansion team proudly unveils its new name and brand identity: the Portland Fire. Based in the global epicenter of women’s sports, the Portland Fire is rooted in the resilience, spirit, and passion for sport that defines the Rose City.

The WNBA's return to Portland has been years in the making, but there are several more steps that the team will need to take before its debut in 2026.

Don’t name your new WNBA team Portland Fire if you aren’t prepared to have your welcome party during a heat wave.

The WNBA's Portland expansion franchise has had a rocky start to its existence, but as of Tuesday it officially has a name. In a callback to the city's first foray into the league, the expansion team will be known as the Fire. The Fire will begin play in 2026 as the WNBA's 15th franchise.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters Wednesday that while the league prefers the for-sale Portland Trail Blazers new owners keep the team in the Rose City, the city "likely needs a new arena" to do so.

How many times have we heard that Portland can’t attract big-time free agents? But by being selected for a WNBA expansion franchise last fall, that is exactly what the Rose City did. The league came into Portland when everybody — everybody — was heading out.