The WNBA is returning to Portland, Oregon, in 2026! The city previously had a short stint in the WNBA with the Portland Fire from 2000-02. It remains to be seen whether or not they will bring back the name the Fire or implement something new.
If they choose a different team name, there are many options to work with. Oregon has beautiful natural features that can be referenced, like its Cascade mountain range or seemingly endless forest. They could also go with a water element, such as rain, mist, or torrent, keeping up with the "T" names that Portland's other sports teams have (the Trail Blazers, Thorns, and Timbers). However, Portland should consider something that pays tribute to the city.
What should Portland's WNBA team name be?
No. 4: Portland Fire
If the Fire weren't previously the team name, they wouldn't be on this list. But in this case, keeping the tradition alive wouldn't be the worst thing. The Fire is an intimidating name, but the main knock is that it paints Portland and Oregon negatively rather than promoting the positives about the city.
No. 3: Portland Swifts
The Vaux's swift is a small bird similar in stature to a sparrow. It migrates to the Pacific Northwest, and Portland even has an annual "Swift Watch," where thousands gather at Chapman Elementary School to watch the spectacle.
Swifts aren't as universally known as some other bird species. Some people might even associate the name with Taylor Swift, which could be viewed as either a positive or negative, depending on how big of a fan you are. But there's a lot that Portland could do with a bird as their logo.
No. 2: Portland Roses
Portland is home to the International Rose Test Garden, one of the country's most well-known gardens with over 10,000 rose bushes. Many like the name Rip City Roses, but the Trail Blazers have the rights to Rip City, so it's unclear if they could strike a deal to make that work.
Still, it's an excellent name that they could do a ton with from a creative standpoint. For instance, it could also be a nod to rosé wine and Willamette Valley, Oregon's wine country. It helps that the Bhathal family also owns the women's professional soccer team, the Portland Thorns, so the Roses would fit in nicely with their theme (fun fact of the day: roses technically have prickles, not thorns, but it's still close enough).
No. 1: Portland Archers
Portland Archers is a fiercer name compared to other great options like Roses or Swifts, yet it still pays tribute to Portland. This name honors' Bridge City' and the iconic arches of Portland's bridges, including the Hawthorne, Steel, and St. Johns Bridges. It also can be associated with having great shooters.
Archers would be the perfect blend of tenacity, basketball jargon, branding, and homage to something that makes Portland unique. It would be surprising if this ended up being their name, but they should strongly consider it.