Portland's New Franchise Begins Construction on Training Facility
While it remains nameless, the new WNBA team in Portland began construction on a state-of-the-art training facility on Tuesday, located just west of the city.
The $150 million project will be based in Hillsboro and will serve both the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League and the yet-to-be-named WNBA team, set to join the league in 2026.
Lisa Bhathal Merage, whose family owns the WNBA franchise and the Thorns, as well as having a stake in the NBA's Sacramento Kings, expressed her excitement for the new facility, stating that it will have a lasting impact on women's sports.
According to Bhathal Merage, this will be the first dual-purpose professional women's sports performance center in the world, and there may not be any others like it in the future. She also emphasized the importance of collaboration and community involvement in lifting up everyone involved.
As for the team name, Bhathal Merage revealed that they are getting closer to a decision and are waiting for final league approval. She hopes to unveil the name within the next two to three months.
