WNBA shelves plans to expand to Portland

The WNBA has made the unexpected decision to postpone plans for expanding to Portland, preventing professional women’s basketball from returning to the city after more than 20 years. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed this news in a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden, stating that the delay was due to renovations being planned for Moda Center, the home of the Trail Blazers. Engelbert explained that until the timing and scope of these renovations are settled, expanding to Portland will be put on hold.

While the specifics of the Moda Center renovations have not been disclosed by the Blazers, a source close to the discussions revealed that Engelbert’s letter came as a surprise to the team’s leaders. The source also mentioned that Blazers chair Jody Allen had agreed to postpone a major overhaul of the arena until 2027 to ensure that the WNBA team would have multiple seasons at Moda Center before being displaced.

Earlier this year, WNBA officials visited Veterans Memorial Coliseum to assess its suitability as a temporary home for a franchise. The source mentioned that discussions were underway with the city of Portland regarding upgrades to the 63-year-old building, including WNBA-ready locker rooms. This level of specificity highlights the close proximity to awarding a franchise to Portland before Engelbert’s recent decision.

In February, Engelbert attended a rally at The Sports Bra in Northeast Portland, organized by Wyden, to bring together leaders from Portland’s sports scene. A spokesperson for Wyden stated that the senator remains committed to working with everyone in Portland to bring a WNBA franchise to the city, considering Portland’s proven success in women’s sports.

Kirk Brown, the millionaire co-founder of ZoomInfo and an advocate for bringing an expansion team to Portland, has not provided recent comment on the efforts to restart discussions. However, multiple sources suggest that other individuals may be interested in forming a new ownership group to salvage the city’s bid. The viability of these efforts remains uncertain, especially if the root cause of the delay is indeed the Blazers’ Moda Center renovations.

On October 5, the WNBA announced an expansion team in San Francisco set to begin play in 2025, with further expansion plans imminent. Portland was widely regarded as the frontrunner at the time, pending final details such as the use of Moda Center as the team’s home arena.

Dewayne Hankins, the Blazers’ president of business operations, has discussed plans to renovate Moda Center in general terms, aiming to make it an attractive venue for an NBA All-Star Game by the end of the decade. However, specific renovation plans have not been announced as the team continues lease negotiations with the city. The lease is set to expire in 2025.

Portland has not had a WNBA team since the Portland Fire folded in 2002. Despite this setback, Portland has become a global leader in women’s sports, being home to the successful Portland Thorns, as well as top-tier women’s basketball teams from the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. The Thorns consistently lead the National Women’s Soccer League in attendance, drawing 18,918 fans per game this season. This setback will not deter the push for more professional sports in Portland, as expressed by WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu during the unveiling of a new court at a local Boys & Girls Club.

Engelbert concluded her letter by stating that the WNBA remains open to the possibility of expanding to Portland in the future, once the timing is right.

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Rachel Adams

Rachel Adams is your WNBA insider, delivering comprehensive coverage of women’s basketball. With a commitment to highlighting the talent and achievements of WNBA players, she provides game analysis, player profiles, and inspiring stories from the league.