![\"FILE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/LWEB4JTBBJGKRHN7XFJPCZWCGY.JPG\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
FILE – From left, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Lisa Bhathal Merage, Alex Bhathal and former Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler at the announcement of Portland’s WNBA team at the Moda Center on Sept. 18, 2024.<\/p>\n
Joni Land \/ OPB<\/p>\n
Portland\u2019s WNBA team is set to announce its brand identity on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speculation about the team\u2019s name, logo and colors has swirled since the league announced it was awarding Portland a franchise in September of last year.<\/p>\n
One name that stands out in the rumor mill is one that\u2019s already been used: the Portland Fire.<\/p>\n
The Portland Fire played in the WNBA from 2000-2002. There are two trademark<\/a> applications<\/a> reviving the former team name by the WNBA still pending with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office. (The applications were first posted to social media<\/a> by reporter Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report in June.)<\/p>\n Commenters on the WNBA subreddit have suggested<\/a> the Roses or (somewhat jokingly) the Riot. Others have posited the team might choose another T name to align with other pro sports franchises in the city, the Timbers, Thorns and Trail Blazers.<\/p>\n Portland WNBA is set to host a launch party to reveal the name and branding Tuesday at Moda Center at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n The young franchise was in the news recently when its first president of basketball operations, Inky Son, left in June<\/a>. The team has since hired former Nike executive Clare Hamill as its interim president.<\/p>\n The team will begin play at Moda in 2026. It will join the WNBA at the same time as Toronto Tempo, bringing the league total to 15 teams.<\/p>\n