The Portland team, set to begin play in the 2026 season, will be owned and operated by RAJ Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. Portland is the third expansion franchise awarded by the WNBA during this round of expansion, following the Golden State Valkyries and a Toronto franchise, bringing the league from 12 to 15 teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAs the WNBA builds on a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another important step forward,\u201d said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. \u201cPortland has been an epicenter of the women\u2019s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans. Pairing this energy with the Bhathal family\u2019s vision of leading top-flight professional sports teams will ensure that we deliver a premier WNBA team to the greater Portland area,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lisa Bhathal Merage will serve as controlling owner and WNBA Governor, while Alex Bhathal will serve as Alternate Governor. The Bhathal family (Lisa, Alex and their parents, Marta and Raj) brings more than 50 years of experience in the professional sports industry, including serving as investors of the NBA\u2019s Sacramento Kings and controlling owners of the National Women\u2019s Soccer League\u2019s Portland Thorns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lisa Merage\u2019s husband, Richard Merage, will also join the buyer group as an investor and Executive Board member of Portland WNBA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor decades, Portland has been the global epicenter of sports lifestyle and today, we are now the global epicenter of women\u2019s sports,\u201d said Lisa Bhathal Merage. \u201cWe believe in the transformative power of women\u2019s sports and are thrilled that the W will call Portland home. We know that Portland\u2019s vibrant and diverse communities will highly support and rally around this team. Our goal is to grow this organization in partnership with the Portland community and we look forward to supporting the best women\u2019s basketball players in the world when they take the floor at the Moda Center in 2026.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The team will play its home games at the Moda Center in downtown Portland. The new team marks the WNBA\u2019s return to Portland after more than 20 years. The Portland Fire played three seasons in the WNBA from 2000-02.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor decades, Portland has been the global epicenter of sports lifestyle and today, we are now the global epicenter of women\u2019s sports,\u201d said Lisa Bhathal Merage. \u201cWe believe in the transformative power of women\u2019s sports and are thrilled that the W will call Portland home. We know that Portland\u2019s vibrant and diverse communities will highly support and rally around this team. Our goal is to grow this organization in partnership with the Portland community and we look forward to supporting the best women\u2019s basketball players in the world when they take the floor at the Moda Center in 2026.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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