PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — After 10 months of patience following the initial announcement that a WNBA franchise would make a comeback in the Rose City, the wait is over. The flames have risen from the ashes and as some would say the fire never died.

The new Portland WNBA team officially has an identity with the Portland Fire set to make a scorching return!

It was a moment that so many had been looking forward to adding another layer of excitement as we inch closer to the 2026 season when the Portland Fire will return to the Moda Center.

Eager fans packed The Sports Bra in Northeast Portland for the historic announcement Tuesday morning. The early morning hours well before the sun rose couldn’t stop those fans from taking part in the historic announcement that aired exclusively on KATU.

The fire has been reborn and it’s the same name given to Portland’s WNBA team that stuck around for three short seasons in the early 2000s.

“I’ve always personally loved the fire,” Sandra Yokley said. For fans like Yokley, the name brings a level of nostalgia and future hopes.

The new logo features a stylized flame with a rose, an inspirational play on the “Rose City” nickname given Portland with the logo’s wordmark taking inspiration from Portland’s 12 bridges.

For Yokley who founded Backcourt Collective, an organization in Portland focused on building excitement and engagement for the WNBA says she’s stoked for the team’s epic return.

“I think like the branding they have is amazing I love the colors totally modernized and yea its really exciting as a fan,” Yokley told KATU.

Portland Fire will help further the growth of women’s sports.

For fans like Lauren Duletzke who hosts the “Click Clack” Podcast focusing on women’s sports, she’s looking forward to what the fire could mean for younger girls pursuing their sports dreams.

“I’m raising a 6-year-old girl and I always say you can’t be what you can’t see,” Duletzke said. “For us in this community to have a women’s sports team like WNBA coming here The Portland Fire we’re so excited about it I just can’t wait to see reactions from all these little girls that are going to get to grow up with this team.”

At last, the fire has been re-ignited.

Many are psyched to see the team return to the Moda Center. Portland Fire has already sold more than 11,000 season tickets and team officials promise more exciting announcements between now and the season opener in 2026.