The WNBA announced Wednesday it has awarded Portland, Oregon a new expansion franchise, which will begin play in the 2026 season. By then, the league will have 15 teams, with the Golden State Valkyries set to join next season and a yet unnamed Toronto franchise also arriving in 2026.

The city originally had an WNBA team named the Fire, which played from 2000 to 2002 before it folded. Portland, which will be the league's 15th team, will be the third expansion franchise added to the WNBA over the next two years. Golden State will begin play next season and Toronto will join Portland in 2026.

Rose City will be home to a WNBA team once again. The league announced Wednesday that Portland was awarded the league's 15th franchise, which is set to start playing in 2026. Why it matters: It's been over two decades since Portland had a WNBA team.

The WNBA is expanding to 15 teams for the 2026 season with a franchise based in Portland, Oregon. ESPN reports that The W is returning to Portland 24 years after the city’s team, the Fire, ceased operations in the league.

The WNBA announced months ago that the league would be expanding to Golden State (San Francisco) next season and Toronto a year later and it seemed like that would be it for a few years, but that was not the case.