CNN —The WNBA is returning to Portland, Oregon, starting in 2026. The new expansion franchise will play its home games at the Moda Center in downtown Portland and become the WNBA’s 15th team, the league announced Wednesday. “As the WNBA builds on a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another important step forward,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. The city previously had a WNBA team – the Portland Fire – from 2000-2002 before it folded. “Portland has a passion for women’s sports and the teams who play in the Rose City, making us the ideal home of the next WNBA team,” Oregon governor Tina Kotek said in a statement.

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Persons: Cathy Engelbert, Lisa Bhathal Merage, Alex Bhathal, ” Merage, Tina Kotek, Engelbert, “, ” Engelbert, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson Organizations: CNN, Moda, “, WNBA, RAJ Sports, Portland, Sacramento Kings, Rose City Rollers, Sports, Indiana Fever, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces Locations: Portland , Oregon, Portland, “ Portland, Rose City, Oregon, Rose, Toronto