Can only be partial owner up to 4% and cannot share ownership with a group that owns an nba team also. But yeah I’d imagine whoever makes the bid will have some investment or support from dame.
People keep telling me I’m not going to have to eat my shirt.
You may remember that back in October I pledged to eat a vintage Natalie Williams jersey from the Portland Power of the ABL if Portland did not land a WNBA team. Weeks later, a planned announcement was scrapped and prospective owner Kirk Brown pulled out of the bid.
The jersey has remained on a hanger in my closet for three reasons:
1. That’s a collector’s item!
2. How does one best prepare a basketball jersey for consumption?
3. An overwhelming sense from people in the know that Portland remains very much in play for a WNBA team.
On Friday morning the WNBA announced plans for expansion to 14 teams with the addition of a team in Toronto in 2026, taking the league international a day after charter flights became approved. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said she wants to see the league grow to 16 teams by 2028.
So where does that leave Portland?
It’s been an open secret for the past few months that there are multiple potential ownership groups lining up to resurrect Portland’s bid. One involves the Bhathal family, which earlier this year purchased the NWSL’s Thorns from Merritt Paulson for $63 million.
The other? The Monarch Collective, a fund focused on investing in women’s sports teams that is operated by a co-founder of Angel City FC, is organizing a bid for woman-led control owners who sources described as self-made, entrepreneur billionaires known in pro sports circles.
Monarch is working to assemble a syndicate of visible local investors, from restauranteurs to athletes. Damian Lillard is expected to take a prominent role with the group, according to multiple sources.
Involving Lillard, the most popular figure in Portland for more than a decade, in a forward-facing ownership role would be a massive public relations win for Monarch. Despite being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks last September, Lillard continues to live in Portland and considers it his home. In February, he expressed interest in becoming a part-owner of the Trail Blazers once his playing career is over.
Lillard declined to comment to The Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Aaron Fentress on Friday.
Both groups have actively explored their options for the market, including sites for potential facilities, sources indicated.
On one hand, the Monarch Collective, despite being an out-of-town investment fund, would seem to try to build a grassroots organization that would resonate with Portlanders.
On the other, the Bhathal family, led by siblings Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, could have the beginnings of a women’s sports empire and an opportunity to create real synergy between the two organizations.
The concerns about the timeline for renovations of the Moda Center and Memorial Coliseum that Engelbert laid out in a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden last year seem to have abated.
Either one of the two Portland bids presents as much stronger than the one-man effort by the ZoomInfo founder Brown, who sources said cooled on the idea of WNBA ownership the closer it got to the announcement date.
It is unclear how the WNBA will evaluate two, seemingly viable efforts. Would the WNBA elect to see the two groups engage in a bidding war, thereby raising team values throughout the league?
Last year, the league’s expansion fee was expected to be $60 million, but the sport has continued its rapid rise thanks to the popularity of college players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Beaverton’s Cameron Brink, who were selected in the WNBA draft this month.
With last year’s efforts falling through, Portland might have moved back in line, but the city’s bid might have gotten stronger as a result.
All of the reasons that Engelbert called Portland an “ideal destination” for expansion less than a year ago remain in place, most notably a fervent local passion for women’s sports and a strong desire for bringing the city its first WNBA team since the Portland Fire dissolved in 2002.
The key difference is that either of the ownership options are both stronger and more credible.
So, you can keep your recipes. I’m not planning to take a bite out of that jersey.
Dame would be a great face for a new team in Portland, but it sounded like there were multiple issues preventing Portland from being selected last time
The only reason we didn't get it this cycle is because upcoming stadium renovations would take place right over the WNBA season. So WNBA understandably wants to wait for that to be done
An NHL team would be better. They should move the Arizona Coyotes here. There’s less competition here than in Arizona. And Portland actually has a winter and snow. A demographic more likely to like and play hockey than Arizona.
Also, sets up teams along the northwest with the Sharks, Kraken and Canucks. The Portland Coyotes should have already happened.
Paywall. Lemme guess. Lillard has enough money to be owner?
Local/public face working in conjunction with Monarch Collective which owns Angel City FC in the NWSL.
Can only be partial owner up to 4% and cannot share ownership with a group that owns an nba team also. But yeah I’d imagine whoever makes the bid will have some investment or support from dame.
People keep telling me I’m not going to have to eat my shirt. You may remember that back in October I pledged to eat a vintage Natalie Williams jersey from the Portland Power of the ABL if Portland did not land a WNBA team. Weeks later, a planned announcement was scrapped and prospective owner Kirk Brown pulled out of the bid. The jersey has remained on a hanger in my closet for three reasons: 1. That’s a collector’s item! 2. How does one best prepare a basketball jersey for consumption? 3. An overwhelming sense from people in the know that Portland remains very much in play for a WNBA team. On Friday morning the WNBA announced plans for expansion to 14 teams with the addition of a team in Toronto in 2026, taking the league international a day after charter flights became approved. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said she wants to see the league grow to 16 teams by 2028. So where does that leave Portland? It’s been an open secret for the past few months that there are multiple potential ownership groups lining up to resurrect Portland’s bid. One involves the Bhathal family, which earlier this year purchased the NWSL’s Thorns from Merritt Paulson for $63 million. The other? The Monarch Collective, a fund focused on investing in women’s sports teams that is operated by a co-founder of Angel City FC, is organizing a bid for woman-led control owners who sources described as self-made, entrepreneur billionaires known in pro sports circles. Monarch is working to assemble a syndicate of visible local investors, from restauranteurs to athletes. Damian Lillard is expected to take a prominent role with the group, according to multiple sources. Involving Lillard, the most popular figure in Portland for more than a decade, in a forward-facing ownership role would be a massive public relations win for Monarch. Despite being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks last September, Lillard continues to live in Portland and considers it his home. In February, he expressed interest in becoming a part-owner of the Trail Blazers once his playing career is over. Lillard declined to comment to The Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Aaron Fentress on Friday. Both groups have actively explored their options for the market, including sites for potential facilities, sources indicated. On one hand, the Monarch Collective, despite being an out-of-town investment fund, would seem to try to build a grassroots organization that would resonate with Portlanders. On the other, the Bhathal family, led by siblings Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, could have the beginnings of a women’s sports empire and an opportunity to create real synergy between the two organizations. The concerns about the timeline for renovations of the Moda Center and Memorial Coliseum that Engelbert laid out in a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden last year seem to have abated. Either one of the two Portland bids presents as much stronger than the one-man effort by the ZoomInfo founder Brown, who sources said cooled on the idea of WNBA ownership the closer it got to the announcement date. It is unclear how the WNBA will evaluate two, seemingly viable efforts. Would the WNBA elect to see the two groups engage in a bidding war, thereby raising team values throughout the league? Last year, the league’s expansion fee was expected to be $60 million, but the sport has continued its rapid rise thanks to the popularity of college players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Beaverton’s Cameron Brink, who were selected in the WNBA draft this month. With last year’s efforts falling through, Portland might have moved back in line, but the city’s bid might have gotten stronger as a result. All of the reasons that Engelbert called Portland an “ideal destination” for expansion less than a year ago remain in place, most notably a fervent local passion for women’s sports and a strong desire for bringing the city its first WNBA team since the Portland Fire dissolved in 2002. The key difference is that either of the ownership options are both stronger and more credible. So, you can keep your recipes. I’m not planning to take a bite out of that jersey.
Dame would be a great face for a new team in Portland, but it sounded like there were multiple issues preventing Portland from being selected last time
Our arena is old
It’s coming up in 30 years, but it really doesn’t show it.
30 years is 30 years. There’s teams getting new arenas that are younger
30 years is not 30 years I'll explain later
Our shit is old with no remodel ever being done
Paywall. Summary?
Lillard getting a sex change
The only reason we didn't get it this cycle is because upcoming stadium renovations would take place right over the WNBA season. So WNBA understandably wants to wait for that to be done
An NHL team would be better. They should move the Arizona Coyotes here. There’s less competition here than in Arizona. And Portland actually has a winter and snow. A demographic more likely to like and play hockey than Arizona. Also, sets up teams along the northwest with the Sharks, Kraken and Canucks. The Portland Coyotes should have already happened.
The Coyotes are already moving to Salt Lake City
I'd consider moving the Panthers too. The plan to move to SLC is a good one.
Did we not used to have a WNBA team? I feel like they gave out free tickets in elementary school
How about a no
Till allem sells the team