LadyStanley
Registered User
WNBA awards Portland expansion franchise that will begin play in 2026
Portland, Golden State and Toronto will all be joining the league over the next two years.
sports.yahoo.com
So:
Golden State - NBA owner
Toronto - NBA owner
Portland - NWSL owner, NBA building
A pattern is developing
Eugene’s former Civic Stadium site now hosts a soccer field for which a stand is being built (targeting USL-1, maybe as soon as next year) as well as the “KidSport” facility which has several basketball courts as well as lockers for soccer teams and other purposes. Easy to see how something like that can be done in one of 2-3 locations in the metro area.Re practice facility...
Aces built a brand new, state of the art facility built (near owner's NFL facility). Has allowed better recruiting for team.
In addition other teams responded with new/upgraded facilities.
While a joint facility might work for workout spaces, lockerroom and practice court/pitch have very different needs.
NWSL has 48 players+practice squad while WNBA has 12 players.
To be accurate, the Toronto franchise will be owned by Kilmer Sports (Larry Tanenbaum's company). Kilmer Sports currently owns 25% of MLSE (Raptor' owner). However, Rogers apparently has the right to buy out the 25% when Tanenbaum turns 80 which is sometime next year) so by the time the WNBA team begins play in 2026, Kilmer Sports my no longer be an NBA owner.So:
Golden State - NBA owner
Toronto - NBA owner
Portland - NWSL owner, NBA building
A pattern is developing