Portland Fire
Portland Fire is the WNBA's 15th expansion franchise, debuting in 2026 at Portland's Moda Center under RAJ Sports ownership. Revenue streams include ticket sales, the Portland Fire+ streaming platform, merchandise, regional broadcasting, and corporate sponsorships serving Portland-area fans and brand partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Portland Fire does
Portland Fire is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) expansion franchise that began play in 2026 as the league's 15th team, reviving the Portland Fire name used by an earlier WNBA franchise from 2000 to 2002. The team plays home games at Portland's Moda Center and is owned by RAJ Sports, the parent entity of Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, which also controls the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The legal entity operating the franchise is PCS Basketball, LLC, incorporated in California with corporate headquarters in Newport Beach, while operational headquarters sit at the Moda Center in the Rose Quarter. The franchise secured the first overall pick in the WNBA expansion draft (Bridget Carleton) and assembled an international roster featuring players from France, Canada, and Australia. Governance is led by President Clare Hamill, GM Vanja Černivec (previously with the Golden State Valkyries), Head Coach Alex Sarama (hired from the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and named WNBA Coach of the Month for May 2026), and VP of Basketball Operations Ashley Battle (formerly of the Boston Celtics/Maine Celtics system). The club is privately held with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing.
The team's product surface centers on live basketball entertainment monetized through single-game tickets sold via Ticketmaster, season memberships, mini-plans, premium seating, and suites at Moda Center. Direct-to-consumer revenue is augmented by Portland Fire+, a streaming platform launched April 9, 2026 in partnership with Kiswe, priced at $5.99 monthly or $59.99 annually, offering live game streaming plus original episodic series, player features, and behind-the-scenes content. Merchandise is distributed through portlandfireteamshop.com and in-arena at Moda Center, while additional revenue is generated through regional broadcast partnerships with Gray Media's KPDX (Fox 12 Plus), Audacy Portland radio, and the jointly created Rose City Sportsnet network, alongside a layered roster of corporate sponsors including Kaiser Permanente, Lashify, Toyota, Old Trapper, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Mountain Casino, and Nuna.
Portland Fire's go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer ticket and streaming sales with a community-led engagement model. The Ember Circle fan-membership program, Her Voice Council advisory group, and EmpowHER Awards events anchor community-driven growth aimed at women and girls in sports, while themed promotional nights (Pride Celebration, PDX Summer Nights, AAPI Heritage Night, Latine Heritage Night, Hood to Coast Night, Sneakerheads Night) drive single-game attendance. The franchise will share the 100,000-square-foot, $150 million Kaiser Permanente Performance Center with the Portland Thorns beginning August 2026, representing the first dual-sport performance center for professional women's teams in the United States. Performance and demand signals during the inaugural season include a record-breaking 19,335 first-game attendance at the Moda Center on May 9, 2026, 15,000+ season-ticket deposits secured pre-season, and the team's first regular-season victory on May 12, 2026 (98-96 over the New York Liberty on a buzzer-beater by Sarah Ashlee Barker).
Portland Fire firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Portland Fire
- Legal name
- PCS Basketball, LLC
- Website
- https://fire.wnba.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Portland Fire is the WNBA's 15th expansion franchise, debuting in 2026 at Portland's Moda Center under RAJ Sports ownership. Revenue streams include ticket sales, the Portland Fire+ streaming platform, merchandise, regional broadcasting, and corporate sponsorships serving Portland-area fans and brand partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Portland Fire industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Sports Franchise (Women's Basketball)
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Other Spectator Sports (711219)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Esports Teams & Player Organizations (MPAFADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Franchise-Based Esports Leagues (MPAKANAC), Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Portland Fire is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Portland Fire business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Primary revenue through single-game tickets via Ticketmaster, season memberships, mini-plans, and premium seating options including suites. Second half memberships available starting at $20/game.
- Streaming Subscription: Portland Fire+ direct-to-consumer streaming platform priced at $5.99/month or $59.99 annually, providing live games and exclusive team content.
- Merchandise and Apparel: Official team shop selling jerseys, apparel, and merchandise through portlandfireteamshop.com and in-arena at Moda Center.
- Broadcasting Rights: Regional broadcast rights with Gray Media's KPDX (Fox 12 Plus), radio partnership with Audacy Portland, and creation of Rose City Sportsnet network.
- Sponsorship and Partnerships: Multi-year partnerships including Spirit Mountain Casino as partner, Old Trapper as Exclusive Beef Jerky sponsor, Kaiser Permanente as medical provider and facility naming rights, and various marquee and official partner designations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Second Half Season Memberships |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Streaming Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Streaming Subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels10 records
Portland Fire product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Portland Fire operates a professional women's basketball franchise competing in the WNBA at Portland's Moda Center. Its core commercial offerings include live game ticketing (single-game, mini-plans, and season memberships), the Portland Fire+ direct-to-consumer streaming subscription, official team merchandise and apparel, regional broadcast rights, and corporate sponsorship inventory. The franchise supplements game-day operations with community programs such as the Her Voice Council advisory group and the EmpowHER Awards.
Product overview
The Portland Fire operates a core direct-to-consumer streaming platform called Portland Fire+ (built in partnership with Kiswe), supplemented by ticket sales, official merchandise, and community programs. The team also participates in WNBA regular-season competition and the Commissioner’s Cup in-season tournament. Community engagement is delivered through the Her Voice Council advisory group and the EmpowHER Awards program. Live games are available via Portland Fire+ streaming, regional broadcast on FOX 12 Plus, and single-game tickets sold through Ticketmaster.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WNBA Game Tickets and Season Memberships
- Portland Fire+ Streaming Platform
- Portland Fire Official Merchandise and Team Shop
- Ember Circle Fan Membership Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Record-breaking 19,335 first-game attendance (WNBA record)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Portland Fire
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Portland Fire technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature1 record
Portland Fire partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Alaska AirlinesminorOfficial airline partner of Portland Fire. Partners with Moda Center and Rose Quarter for travel information for out-of-town fans.
- ToyotacorePDX Summer Nights presented by Toyota includes bandana giveaway for first 5,000 fans. Partnership supporting theme night events and fan engagement activities.
- Portland State UniversityminorTraining camp partnership with Portland State University providing practice facilities and academic collaboration opportunities.
- LashifycoreNamed Marquee Jersey and Official Eyelash Partner of the Portland Fire. Premier sponsorship designation with jersey association and branding presence.
- Audacy PortlandcoreRadio partnership with Audacy Portland for broadcast of Portland Fire and Portland Thorns games, extending reach to radio audiences in the Portland market.
- Spirit Mountain CasinocoreMulti-year partnership making Spirit Mountain Casino a partner of the Portland Fire WNBA team. Includes in-arena branding and fan engagement opportunities.
- NunaminorNamed Official Baby Gear Partner of Portland Fire and Portland Thorns. Family-friendly partnership supporting parents and young families attending games.
- CLLCTminorGroundbreaking partnership to build the category-defining home for women's sports collectibles in Portland. Creates unique collectibles and memorabilia offerings for fans.
- Gray Media (KPDX Fox 12 Plus)flagshipMulti-year media partnership establishing Fox 12 Plus as exclusive local broadcast home for Portland Fire and Portland Thorns. Raycom Sports produces game broadcasts including pregame and postgame shows. Part of broader Rose City Sportsnet network creation.
- KiswecoreTechnology partnership to launch Portland Fire+ direct-to-consumer streaming platform offering live games, original series, player features, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Kiswe provides streaming technology infrastructure.
- Kaiser PermanenteflagshipKaiser Permanente named official medical provider and team physicians for both Portland Fire and Portland Thorns. Partnership anchored by the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center opening in 2026, the world's first dual-sport women's performance center. Provides integrated sports medicine, injury prevention, mental health support, and rehabilitation services.
- Portland Thorns (NWSL)flagshipSister organization sharing the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center. First-of-its-kind dual-sport women's performance center. Joint training facility, broadcast deals (Fox 12 Plus, Audacy), radio partnerships, and community programs including Her Voice Council.
- Old Trapper Smoked ProductsminorMulti-year partnership making Old Trapper the Exclusive Beef Jerky sponsor of Portland Fire. Includes in-arena branding, fan engagement opportunities, sponsorship of Portland Fire Autograph Zone, and game-day experiences.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Portland Fire competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seattle Storm: The other Pacific Northwest WNBA team, also based in a top-25 US media market with deeply engaged women's sports fans. Seattle Storm is the most direct territorial peer given geographic proximity and shared Cascadia-region audience overlap with Portland Fire.
- Golden State Valkyries: The most recent WNBA expansion franchise prior to Portland Fire, which began play in 2025. Direct analog as a new WNBA franchise navigating launch-year operations, roster construction via expansion draft, and fan-building; very similar business model, league economics, and timing.
- Toronto Tempo: The WNBA's 2026 expansion franchise alongside Portland Fire, both debuting in the league's 30th season. Direct peer: matching expansion economics, shared inaugural-season operational playbook, expansion draft mechanics, and sponsorship market dynamics.
- Indiana Fever: A WNBA franchise that has experienced a recent surge in valuations, attendance, and sponsorship demand driven by the Caitlin Clark era. Closest analog for understanding what upside looks like when expansion-era demand meets star-driven fandom in a regional market.
- Las Vegas Aces: Recent multi-year WNBA champions and the league's benchmark for on-court dominance driving sustained ticket, sponsorship, and merchandise demand. Best-in-class peer for understanding revenue scale at the top of the WNBA.
- New York Liberty: WNBA franchise playing at a Barclays Center-scale venue with strong corporate and DTC streaming monetization. Comparable as a top-tier WNBA franchise balancing large-market economics with league salary cap structure.
- Los Angeles Sparks: Iconic WNBA franchise in a major media market with strong brand legacy. Useful peer for understanding how women's basketball brands monetize in coastal, large-media-market environments similar to Portland's positioning.
- Portland Thorns: Sister NWSL franchise owned by the same Bhathal family via RAJ Sports, sharing the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, broadcasting partnerships, and operational infrastructure. The most structurally comparable women's sports franchise by ownership, facility, and operational model.
- Angel City FC: NWSL franchise built from inception around high-profile ownership, DTC streaming (Angel City FC app and YouTube partnership), and community-led fan engagement — a comparable women's pro sports DTC and sponsorship playbook for Portland Fire's digital strategy.
- Chicago Sky: WNBA franchise in a major Midwest market with established arena economics at Wintrust Arena. Useful peer for benchmarking revenue diversification (tickets, broadcast, sponsorship, merchandise) against a comparable mid-tier WNBA market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Portland Fire social profiles
Digital presencePortland Fire financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Portland Fire leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Portland Fire funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Portland Fire M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Portland Fire
What does Portland Fire do?
Portland Fire operates a professional women's basketball franchise competing in the WNBA at Portland's Moda Center. Its core commercial offerings include live game ticketing (single-game, mini-plans, and season memberships), the Portland Fire+ direct-to-consumer streaming subscription, official team merchandise and apparel, regional broadcast rights, and corporate sponsorship inventory. The franchise supplements game-day operations with community programs such as the Her Voice Council advisory group and the EmpowHER Awards.
Is Portland Fire a public or private company?
Portland Fire is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Portland Fire founded?
Portland Fire was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Portland Fire based?
Portland Fire is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Portland Fire make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are streaming Subscription, merchandise and Apparel, broadcasting Rights and sponsorship and Partnerships.
Who are Portland Fire's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seattle Storm, Golden State Valkyries, Toronto Tempo, Indiana Fever, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Portland Thorns, Angel City FC and Chicago Sky.
Does Portland Fire have an API?
No public API is recorded for Portland Fire.
What industry is Portland Fire in?
Portland Fire's product category is Professional Sports Franchise (Women's Basketball). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFADAB, Esports Teams & Player Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAKANAC, Franchise-Based Esports Leagues. Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7900.