Portland WNBA surpasses 10,000 season ticket deposits for 2026

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s WNBA expansion team is on pace to set a league record. With just under a year to the 2026 tip-off, the franchise has surpassed 10,000 season ticket deposits, signaling blazing interest in the team. 

“Something truly groundbreaking is happening in Portland,” said Lisa Bhathal Merage, Portland WNBA co-owner and governor. The energy and support pouring in from this community are unmatched.”

Shortly after the league announced it would be returning to the Rose City after 22 years, naming Portland as its 15th expansion franchise, eager fans could opt to pay a $26 deposit to ensure access to Portland’s WNBA season tickets when they become available. 

Two weeks after the announcement, 5,000 season tickets deposits had been placed.  

By calculations, Portland’s WNBA franchise has racked in at least $260,000 from just deposits alone. 

“Portland is proving that when a city commits to women’s sports, the results aren’t just impressive, they’re historic,” Bhathal Merage said. “This response is a powerful testament to Portland’s leadership and passion in women’s athletics.”

This franchise milestone is a clear indicator of interest in the Portland WNBA team. It’s the second franchise in recent years to top 10,000 in season ticket deposits. 

For perspective, the Golden State Valkyries that tipped off for the first time in 2025 became the first WNBA team to sell 10,000 season tickets deposits ahead of its inaugural season. The Golden State franchise eventually sold more than 20,000 deposits by the start of the season. 

Full pricing and seat selection for Portland WNBA season tickets is expected to be released at a later date. While there’s no way to know how the pricing will stack up, season ticket packages for the WNBA team in Seattle range from $782 to $2,185. The Climate Pledge Arena, where the Seattle Storm play, can seat about 18,300 for basketball, with on average 11,300 fans in attendance per game. 

The Moda Center’s capacity for basketball games is nearly 19,400 seats, according to Ticketmaster. 

An official name for Portland’s WNBA team has not yet been announced. However, trademark applications filed last week suggest the return of “Portland Fire,” the name of the franchise the city had from 2000 to 2002. 

The Portland WNBA franchise is set to unveil the team’s name, logo and more on July 15, RAJ Sports said in a news release. 

The Bhathal family via RAJ Sports own the Portland WNBA franchise, as well as the Portland Thorns (NWSL). The group is also principal co-owners of the Sacramento Kings (NBA), the Sacramento RiverCats (MiLB, AAA) and the Stockton Kings (NBA G League).

“This extraordinary level of community engagement goes beyond casual interest, it further cements Portland’s position as the global epicenter of women’s sports,” said Mike Whitehead, managing director of RAJ Sports. “From grassroots programs to professional platforms, Portland is setting the standard for how a city rallies around, supports and elevates women’s athletics at every level.”