While the current league has 12 teams, the WNBA is expanding, and cities are jostling to create a franchise. After San Francisco and Toronto, it is Portland that will hold a press conference to announce the creation of a team.
Leading the project is the Bhathal family, owners of the Portland Thorns (women's soccer), and an official announcement from the Bhathals and the WNBA is expected on September 10.
A 16-a-side championship in 2028
According to sources from Rose Garden Reportthe team name and logo will be revealed at a later date. It is not yet known whether the Bhathals intend to revive Portland's former WNBA franchise, the Fire, which folded in 2002. Pending completion of the Rose Garden, the team will play at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Starting next season, there will be 13 teams with the arrival of the Warriors, and the women's league hopes to have three more by 2028 to reach a 16-team championship. With Portland, we will therefore have 15, and there will only be one franchise left to create within four years. Philadelphia, Denver, Nashville and Miami are in the running to be the last city to host this 16th team.
