​PORTLAND, OREGON – MAY 27: Karlie Samuelson #44, Holly Winterburn #77, and Carla Leite #0 react after Frieda Buhner #20 of the Portland Fire made a three point basket during the second half of the game against the Connecticut Sun at Moda Center on May 27, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAfter 15 years of standing pat at 12 teams, the WNBA has recently embraced a new, rapid-growth era.The league added the Golden State Valkyries as team No. 13 in 2025, and that club found immediate financial and on-court success, winning the WNBA Finals on Halloween this year.For 2026, two more teams – the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire – joined before the WNBA is scheduled to bring additional franchises to Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030). The Houston Comets will also make their return in 2027 via the Connecticut Sun’s relocation, after the original Comets franchise, which won the first four WNBA Finals, folded in 2028.If that sounds like a lot of change in a short stretch, it is. But that’s part of the opportunity being presented to expansion clubs in the modern WNBA, when franchise valuations are hitting all-time highs and TV audiences are soaring for games like this year’s game seven of the WNBA Finals.I recently spoke to Portland Fire executives about some of their key takeaways from this expansion season, the state of the WNBA and how the new Fire franchise (unrelated to the original team from 2000-02) have been reborn with community at the center.PORTLAND, OREGON – OCTOBER 23: Isabella Obaze #5 and M.A. Vignola #25 of Portland Thorns FC celebrate after clinching a spot in the playoffs following the NWSL match between Portland Thorns FC and North Carolina Courage at Providence Park on October 23, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/NWSL via Getty Images)NWSL via Getty ImagesUnique Moment, Opportunity For Women’s Sports and PortlandFrom a sports business perspective, women’s sports growth is on everyone’s minds. Bank of America Institute estimates see women’s sports revenues in the U.S. alone surging 250% from 2024 to 2030, to $2.5 billion. And as the entry point for men’s sports have continued to balloon, it’s made women’s leagues like the WNBA and NWSL – with passionate audiences, room to expand and less capital required upfront to sponsor and/or invest – the more enticing idea of the two.Beyond the money aspect, however, women’s sports are also delivering a sense of community and belonging for cities that is both special and unique. And that was one of the biggest things Portland’s executives touched on when speaking about the experience of the first season.“There’s definitely something special about women’s sports fans in Portland. There’s a magic here,