As the WNBA is growing at a rapid rate as a league, it is getting a couple more franchises joining in very soon. And Portland would be one such team to bring the vibrance of Oregon to the hard court.
However, while there’s still time for the team’s official debut in the league, the sibling co-owners of the franchise are already getting into trouble. Before it could even start giving their fanbase a suitable vibe with their debut, their name leaked.
Portland’s New WNBA Franchise Co-Owners Under Fire For Name Leak Before Debut
The Portland franchise is all set to make its debut into the women’s basketball league in the year 2026. It is co-owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage and her brother Alex Bhathal of RAJ Sports. The Bhathal siblings bought the franchise for a whopping $125 million.
However, controversy erupted over recent trademark filings, which included the name ‘Portland Fire’ and a stylized ‘P’ logo. Portland Fire was Portland’s first team in the WNBA, playing from 2000 to 2002, when they folded. The Original Portland Fire never made the playoffs.
But the fans and critics feel that the new team should have a new name, to resonate with a new era rather than revisiting the past. After the name got leaked, the fans are lashing out at the co-owners.
Despite the controversy, as the franchise heads toward an official announcement, there’s a lot in development. Sources indicate that the team is likely to revive the name ‘Fire,’ according to reports from the Rose Garden Report. The team has already made key hires, including appointing Inky Son as the team president.
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Additionally, progress has been made on establishing a new practice facility. It will be developed in conjunction with the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, owned by RAJ Sports.
Portland’s WNBA Team Teases Big Reveal For July 15
Excitement is building up for the Portland WNBA team, as the team dropped a post on its official X(formerly Twitter) account to tease the fans and generate buzz. The team’s official handle dropped a sleek graphic with some intriguing words.
“July 15 the countdown is on,” they wrote with a vibrant graphic.
Fans are speculating that the team will reveal the franchise name soon, as its unofficial name has been trending all over social media for a while. That being said, all eyes are now on July 15 to know about all the details and to put an end to all the controversial rumors.