Construction begins on Portland Thorns, WNBA facility

HILLSBORO, Ore. — A first-of-its kind all-women’s sports facility in Hillsboro is one step closer to reality.

RAJ Sports and other project supporters hosted a groundbreaking Tuesday morning for the new women’s sports performance center for the Portland Thorns and Portland’s future WNBA team.

By spring of 2026, planners expect the former Nike office building will be transformed into a new state-of-the-art training zone for both teams.

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Karina LeBlanc, Portland Thorns’ vice president of Strategic Growth Development, said the teams are excited to have a permanent home “they can call their own, and that’s what’s exciting for all of us,” she said.

“I’ve played in World Cups, Olympics, professionally, (but) I’ve never walked into a building that’s been built for the younger version of me, when you think how that’s different,” she said. “That alone sets a whole different tone.”

Also at the groundbreaking celebration, soccer and basketball players from local schools enjoyed a morning of sports clinics at the site, some hoping to one day to be welcomed back as professional players.

“If I really worked hard, that would be a really great experience to be able to do that,” said Kiara Green, a junior and varsity basketball player at Century High School. “But if it comes, then it comes.”

Logan Amper, a freshman at Century, said, “I think that’s really cool how they’re giving women all these opportunities to get more into the world, and it’s giving women more recognition.”

Thorns forward Morgan Weaver, who hopes to return to the field next year after her season-ending injury, said it will be nice to have a permanent place to practice. 

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“We’re going to have a grass field here; we’re going to have our own facility — of course, shared with the WNBA — which is so exciting,” she said. “We can have lunch together, meet new people… that’s one thing I’m excited about.”

Communications managers said the facilities are funded by RAJ Sports and other investors. The project will be built in multiple phases at a total cost at least $150 million.

Lisa Bhathal Merage, the teams’ co-owner and co-governor, said they asked, “What do players want to be around? How do we build this so it’s a place people really want to come and play, and win, in Portland?”

Co-owner and co-governor of the teams Lisa Bhathal said the facility will have a spa-like feel with both common spaces and privacy and has been designed specifically with women in mind. She said the center will include recovery lounges, hyperbaric therapy and recovery pools.

LeBlanc said it’s important to show female athletes they deserve the same respect as male athletes and a permanent space to perfect their skills.

“If you start at the top, and you give them their space and make it accessible for all, think about what’s possible in the future,” she said.