PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — The WNBA is back in Portland, and our hometown team will once again be known as the Portland Fire.
The announcement was made this morning on Good Morning America with the ABC show broadcasting live from the Sports Bra in northeast Portland.
For weeks, it was speculated that the team would use the “Fire” name after the WNBA filed several trademark applications. The new logo is a rose on fire.
From 2000 to 2002, the Portland Fire played at the Rose Garden, now known as Moda Center.
The Rose City is the third expansion in this latest round, following the Golden State Valkyries and the Toronto Tempo. Portland brings the league from 12 to 15 teams.
The team’s players will be selected during the expansion draft in early December.
GMA correspondent Will Reeve anchored the announcement from the groundbreaking sports bar. You can see the unveiling of the team’s logo at 8:45 a.m. on KATU.
Fans can join the franchise for a launch party later this afternoon from 3-5 p.m. at Moda Center.