WNBA’s Portland Fire ignites fan passion with name and logo reveal

Oregon’s WNBA expansion team is bringing back a familiar identity, reintroducing the Portland Fire as its official name. The team, which will debut next season alongside the Toronto Tempo, announced its branding Tuesday, reviving the name of Portland’s former WNBA franchise that played from 2000 to 2002.

"Our feeling is that the fire never died," said interim Fire president Clare Hamill. "Fans have been waiting for us to come back, and we're back with the Portland Fire."

The team unveiled a vibrant new 'Rose on Fire' logo and a color scheme featuring red, brown, blue, and pink. More than 11,000 season ticket deposits have already been placed-setting a new WNBA record.



Owned by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal (who also own the NWSL’s Portland Thorns), the Fire will play at the Moda Center and share a new joint-training facility with the Thorns - the first of its kind between the two women’s leagues.

Hamill, a former Nike executive, has stepped in to lead the Portland Fire following the departure of Inky Son, as the search for a permanent president continues. Hamill emphasized that the unveiling of the team’s name and logo is just the beginning of a flurry of upcoming activity.


The Fire also launched their official website on Tuesday, signaling their rapid progress as they prepare for their WNBA debut next season.

"We’re pointing everybody to the launch and the pace at which we’re moving," Hamill said. "We want to give everyone confidence that we have our arms around it. We’re moving fast, and you’re going to hear from us a lot."

To mark the branding reveal, the team hosted a community celebration outside the Moda Center, drawing several hundred fans. Among those in attendance were former WNBA players Olympia Scott and Lindsey Yamasaki, underscoring the city’s strong support for women’s basketball and the franchise’s historical roots.