Portland WNBA Team Unveils Original Fire Name
Portland's WNBA expansion team unveiled their Portland Fire team name on Tuesday, reclaiming the same name that the team used during an initial WNBA run from 2000-2002.
“As a city that has long championed women’s sports, Portland is ready to reclaim its place in the WNBA and reignite its connection to the game on the world stage,” said Clare Hamill, Portland Fire Interim President. “We are thrilled to complete the journey of bringing professional women’s basketball back to the Rose City, while honoring the legacy of the original franchise to blaze a new, bold path forward.”
The logo features a Fire Red, Brown, Blue, and Pink palette that evokes the "power, grit, calm, and creativity that defines the team."
The team celebrated by hosting a fan launch party at the Moda Center.
The Fire recently announced that they had surpassed over 11,000 season tickets deposits as they set to begin play in 2026.
“Portland has long stood at the forefront of women’s sports, and with nearly 11,000 season ticket deposits to-date, this community has made it clear they’re ready to embrace the return of women’s professional basketball,” said owner Lisa Bhathal Merage. “We’re proud to reignite the Portland Fire and can’t wait to welcome new and longtime fans to the Moda Center in 2026.”
The Fire still have yet to hire a general manager or coach. Team president Inky Son left the franchise last month.
The Fire will debut alongside the Toronto Tempo next season.
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