Latest news with #LisaBhathalMerage
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland's expansion WNBA team parts ways with President Inky Son
FILE - From left, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage appear at an event to award Portland a WNBA franchise at the Moda Center on Sept. 18, 2024, at the Moda Center in Portland. (AP Photo/Anne M. Peterson, File) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Inky Son, president of the expansion WNBA team in Portland, is leaving the organization after less than three months on the job. RAJ Sports, led by team owners Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, announced the move Friday. Advertisement 'During her brief but impactful tenure, Son helped lay the foundation for the franchise's presence in Portland, shaping its early business operations and community engagement efforts,' the firm said in a statement. 'Son will return to New York, where she was previously based, and the organization thanks her for her leadership during this important phase and wishes her success in her next chapter.' The team is set to start play next season, along with the expansion Toronto Tempo. Portland's team does not yet have a name, a coach or a general manager. Portland's branding is expected to be announced on July 15. Son was announced as the first employee of the team in early April. As president of business operations, Son was tasked with leading all aspects of the business, including marketing, ticket and sponsorship sales, community relations, finance, legal, and human resources. She was also responsible for hiring. Advertisement Before working for the team, Son was chief administrative officer for the National Basketball Players Association. Portland was awarded an expansion team in September. The Bhathal family paid $125 million for the franchise. ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland's WNBA expansion team reportedly fires president less than 3 months after hiring her
The incoming WNBA team in Portland is still nearly a year away from playing its first games, but its leadership might already be getting a little messy. Team president Inky Son, the franchise's first employee who was hired on April 1, has been fired according to The Oregonian's Bill Oram. A reason why was not given, though The Oregonian reports significant 'growing pains' amid a 'rocky' rollout for the WNBA's planned 15th team. Advertisement A South Korea native and graduate from Georgetown's business school, Son joined the still-unnamed Portland team after a stint as the chief administrative officer of the National Basketball Players Association. She also has experience with the MLB Players Association. As president, she was to oversee all aspects of the business, including hiring the team's head of basketball operations. The team's ownership group, which also owns the NWSL's Portland Thorns, sang her praises while announcing her hire less than three months ago: 'We are thrilled to welcome Inky to our team,' said Lisa Bhathal Merage, Owner and Governor of the expansion Portland WNBA franchise. 'Inky's proven track record of transforming organizations, her strategic mindset, and her passion for our mission make her the ideal person to build a solid foundation for our franchise and reaffirm Portland as the global epicenter of women's sports. Apparently no longer the ideal person for the job, Son's ouster comes at an awkward time for the Portland team, which is set to play its inaugural season in 2026 alongside another expansion team, the Toronto Tempo. Unlike Portland, the Tempo have already revealed their name, logo and general manager. Portland did have a potential name leak out earlier this week: the Portland Fire, a name that reflects both the city's previous WNBA team, in operation from 2000 to 2002, and the recurring phenomena that burnt 1.9 million acres in Oregon last year, damaged nearly 200 homes and racked up more than $350 million in firefighting bills. Advertisement The team filed trademarks for the Portland Fire earlier this month and has hinted it will reveal its brand identity on July 15. On the bright side, the team reported over 10,000 season ticket deposits had been made as of Thursday afternoon. Hopefully, they have some more good news to report soon.
Reuters
19-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Thorns ink NWSL record kit deal with home security company Ring
NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - National Women's Soccer League side Portland Thorns have inked the most valuable kit deal in the league's history after signing Ring home security as a multi-year sponsor, a source with knowledge confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday. The agreement exceeds the widely-reported $2.6 million per-year deal between Bay FC and Sutton Health, which previously held the record, the source said, though the value of the Thorns sponsorship was not immediately available. The deal sees Ring replace longtime front-of-kit sponsor, healthcare company Providence, with the Amazon-owned brand's logo on the three-times champions' jerseys. "Working with Ring goes beyond logo placement — it's about deepening our connection with fans and enhancing their experience," Portland Thorns Governor Lisa Bhathal Merage said in a statement. The announcement comes amid rapid growth for the top-flight American league, which announced last month that a new Denver franchise would join in 2026 along with a fresh Boston club, bringing the league to 16 teams.
