Kings Co-Owners Buy Portland WNBA Team for $125 Million

The Sacramento Kings’ co-owners, Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, have made a significant move into women’s sports by acquiring a WNBA team in Portland for $125 million. This new team, set to debut in 2026, is part of the league’s expanding efforts, making Portland the third city to welcome a new franchise in the next few years. The purchase highlights the increasing momentum and popularity surrounding women’s basketball, which has seen substantial growth in recent years.

Lisa Bhathal Merage and her brother Alex Bhathal will manage the Portland franchise through their company, Raj Sports. The Bhathal family became well-known in professional sports ownership after joining the group that purchased the Sacramento Kings NBA team in 2013. With this latest acquisition, they are expanding their influence in women’s basketball. The $125 million deal marks a substantial investment as the WNBA continues to grow its presence.

This move aligns with the WNBA’s expansion plans, with Portland joining Golden State and Toronto as the newest cities to host teams. The Golden State Valkyries are set to enter the league in 2025, while both Portland and Toronto will follow in 2026. Although the Portland team remains unnamed, it will call the Moda Center home, the same venue used by the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. However, due to ongoing renovations in the area, the team may need to play some of its second season at the nearby Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Bhathals are no strangers to women’s sports, already holding a controlling interest in the Portland Thorns, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Their experience in managing successful women’s teams will likely be valuable as they build this new WNBA franchise. One of their key goals is to create a strong foundation for the team, with plans to construct a dedicated practice facility for the players. This commitment reflects their long-term vision for the team’s success and development.

The return of the WNBA to Portland is significant because this is the first time the league has re-established a franchise in a city it previously left. Portland was home to the Portland Fire, a WNBA team that played from 2000 until it folded in 2002. The league’s decision to return to Portland shows a renewed confidence in the market, which has evolved since the Fire’s departure over two decades ago. Portland’s strong basketball culture, evidenced by the support for the Trail Blazers, creates a solid foundation for the new WNBA team.

The WNBA is riding a wave of momentum, with increasing attendance, rising TV ratings, and more substantial media deals highlighting the league’s growing prominence. In July 2023, the WNBA secured a $2.2 billion media contract, underscoring the rising marketability of women’s basketball. The 2024 season has seen record-breaking fan engagement, with approximately 400,000 fans attending games in the opening month. More than half of these games were sold out, marking a 156% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Additionally, WNBA games averaged 1.32 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, and other networks, nearly tripling the viewership from the prior season.

Much of the WNBA’s growth can be attributed to the prominence of collegiate stars like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, who have drawn considerable attention to the league. Caitlin Clark’s debut in May 2024 attracted 2.13 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game since 2001 and the highest-rated game on cable television. These rising stars have helped elevate the profile of the league and contribute to its growing fan base.

The Bhathals’ investment in the Portland WNBA team demonstrates their belief in the league’s potential. Their $125 million purchase reflects the broader trend of greater investment in women’s sports, and the expansion into Portland represents more than just a return to a city the WNBA left behind. With a committed ownership group, passionate local fan base, and the league’s growing popularity, the new Portland team is expected to succeed both on and off the court.

As the WNBA prepares for its playoff season, set to begin on September 22, 2024, the excitement surrounding the league continues to build. Fans in Portland eagerly await the return of professional women’s basketball to their city in 2026, as the Bhathals work to establish a competitive team that can contribute to the WNBA’s continued growth and success.