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Today, Portland’s WNBA expansion team proudly unveils its new name and brand identity: the Portland Fire. Based in the global epicenter of women’s sports, the Portland Fire is rooted in the resilience, spirit, and passion for sport that defines the Rose City. A team reborn, the Portland Fire marks the revival of a movement. Rooted in the identity and energy of Portland, the Portland Fire brand is bold and modern with a nod to its history. The new brand reflects unapologetic determination and city pride, with every element – from the custom logo and commanding typography to the Fire Red, Brown, Blue, and Pink palette – evoking the power, grit, calm, and creativity that defines the team. “As a city that has long championed women’s sports, Portland is ready to reclaim its place in the WNBA and reignite its connection to the game on the world stage,” said Clare Hamill, Portland Fire Interim President. “We are thrilled to complete the journey of bringing professional women’s basketball back to the Rose City, while honoring the legacy of the original franchise to blaze a new, bold path forward.”
Scott Agness: Fever-Wings drew an average of 2.1 million viewers Sunday on ABC. It was the network's fourth-largest audience ever for a WNBA game, per Nielsen. It was the first pro meeting with the last three No. 1 picks: Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers.
Terry Gannon, a former college basketball player who has excelled as an Olympic and golf commentator at NBC, will join the network’s impending NBA coverage as its third play-by-play announcer. A member of N.C. State’s 1983 national championship team, Gannon -- represented by Sandy Montag, CEO of The Montag Group -- returns to the sport that gave him his broadcast start at ESPN when he worked NBA and WNBA telecasts.
We spoke with the three-time champion at the Taylor vs. Serrano fight on Friday ... and asked her about the W's announcement that Motor City -- where Swin Cash played from 2002 to 2007 -- would be home to a pro women's hoops team once again in 2029. Of course, the Shock relocated to Tulsa in 2009 ... and eventually settled in Dallas in 2016. Safe to say Cash is over the moon ... and understands what it means for her old stomping grounds. "Ay, Detroit! What up, though! I am so happy to see the WNBA back in Detroit after winning two championships there," Cash said. "They keep a special place in my heart." "I cannot wait to see how that city receives their new team!"
The Caitlin Clark effect hate is real ... so says Nancy Lieberman, who tells TMZ Sports players need to embrace the "cash cow" and stop being petty. We spoke with Lieberman after the All-Star voting results were released ... which showed Clark as the 9th-ranked WNBA guard in the player vote.
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Jordan Brand unveils "Too Easy" ad ahead of Air Jordan 40 launch 🔥 pic.twitter.com/I6oFcrVsHa
— Sneaker News (@SneakerNews) July 12, 2025
ESPN’s broadcast of Tuesday night’s WNBA matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty drew a big viewing audience. Madeline Kenney of the New York Post shared the numbers on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “The numbers from last night’s nationally televised Aces-Liberty game are in: The Liberty win averaged 701K viewers, peaking at 813K on ESPN,” Kenney said. “It was the most-watched non-Indiana WNBA game on ESPN (E1) since 1999.”
StatMuse: Alyssa Thomas vs Wings: 15 PTS 10 REB 15 AST (t-franchise record) 5-8 FG +30 The first player in WNBA history with a 15/10/15 game. pic.x.com/DqGMHjrPSi
Pat McAfee: RED PANDA UPDATE We just got sent a statement from The 🐐’s team. “Thank you very much to all NBA, WNBA, Universities, media individuals and her ever supporting fans for your kindness and concern. Last night at Lynx/Fever she took a fall at the very beginning of the show, due to left paddle of her unicycle was damaged during transit, her left wrist was severely fractured at the same spot for the 2nd time. She was at the hospital for 11 hours last night. Greta and Sheridan, from Minnesota Lynx, stayed with her at the hospital the entire night for her procedure. She is very grateful. She is on her way home now and the Doctors in Minneapolis have recommended that as soon as she gets home, she meet with an orthopedic surgeon for the 2nd part of repair. Red panda, wants me to Thank all of you for the kind wishes and support, it means the world to her. She much appreciates from her heart the support she is receiving. We’ll keep you all posted” 🗣 WE LOVE YOU RED PANDA
Pat McAfee: RED PANDA UPDATE We just got sent a statement from The 🐐’s team. “Thank you very much to all NBA, WNBA, Universities, media individuals and her ever supporting fans for your kindness and concern. Last night at Lynx/Fever she took a fall at the very beginning of the show, due to left paddle of her unicycle was damaged during transit, her left wrist was severely fractured at the same spot for the 2nd time. She was at the hospital for 11 hours last night. Hilton and Greta, from Minnesota Lynx, stayed with her at the hospital the entire night for her procedure. She is very grateful. She is on her way home now and the Doctors in Minneapolis have recommended that as soon as she gets home, she meet with an orthopedic surgeon for the 2nd part of repair. Red panda, wants me to Thank all of you for the kind wishes and support, it means the world to her. She much appreciates from her heart the support she is receiving. We’ll keep you all posted” 🗣 WE LOVE YOU RED PANDA
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After receiving 11 bids, the WNBA chose Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia as its next three expansion teams, with all three teams backed by owners of the NBA teams in those cities. The owners of the three WNBA expansion teams preceding these—the Golden State Valkyries, the Toronto Tempo and Portland—also have NBA ties. Last September, Allen & Co. was hired by the league to lead the expansion process. “If there are NBA owners in the back room saying, ‘Hey, when am I getting my team?’ I think Adam [Silver] is probably listening,” Austin expansion backer Fran Harris, an entrepreneur and former WNBA player, told Sportico in a phone interview. “It’s hard to tell a billionaire with a thriving NBA team and operation that they can’t run it back with a W team. It’s hard to look at them and just go, ‘I don’t think you’re right.’”
Of the eight rejected bids, only two (Houston and Charlotte, N.C.) were backed by NBA team owners. The other six (St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Miami; and Denver) sent proposals without support from NBA ownership. While Miami and Denver have NBA teams, the ownership was not involved in the WNBA bid.
The Seattle Storm, in partnership with Climate Pledge Arena, announced today that a statue honoring WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Sue Bird will be unveiled on Sunday, August 17, at 10:00 a.m. The Storm is the first franchise in WNBA history to dedicate a statue to a former player.
Michael Voepel: Popular halftime performer Red Panda was injured after a fall at the WNBA Commissioner's Cup game. She tried to walk of the court but is being attended to by medical personnel now. She is being wheeled off the court.
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