Just days after revealing its name and logo, the Portland Fire, the WNBA’s newest expansion team, has already exceeded 12,500 season ticket deposits. The strong response marks a historic start for the franchise, which will begin play in 2026 at the Moda Center.
The team debuted its brand on July 15 and had already passed 10,000 deposits before the official launch event. Since then, interest has only grown, cementing Portland as one of the most passionate markets for women’s sports.
“This response is incredible,” said Clare Hamill, Interim Team President of the Portland Fire. “To have over 6,000 passionate fans attend our launch party, and to surpass 12,500 deposits within days of our brand reveal speaks volumes about the passion of this city and our fans’ excitement for this team. Portland doesn’t just support women’s sports, it helps define the future of it and this is just the beginning.”
Hamill, a 43-year veteran of Nike, leads the franchise’s early development and will soon oversee additional leadership hires, including a general manager.
Mike Whitehead, Managing Director of RAJ Sports, the team’s ownership group, called the fan support historic. “From the start, we knew Portland would redefine engagement in women’s sports,” he said.
Fans can reserve their spot in history now by placing a deposit at WNBA.com/portland. The Portland Fire’s inaugural season promises to be one of the most anticipated debuts in WNBA history.