Latest news with #PortlandFire
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA expansion team in Portland fires president Inky Son: Reports
The WNBA expansion franchise in Portland doesn't even begin playing until 2026. It has already fired its top employee. Team president Inky Son, who was hired by the new franchise April 1, is out less than three months later, according to multiple reports. The Oregonian was the first to report the news. Advertisement RAJ Sports, which owns the fledgling franchise, as well as the Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL and other sports entities, declined to comment to The Oregonian. The WNBA awarded Portland its expansion team in September, and the team is expected to debut next season along with a new team in Toronto. But though Toronto has already hired a general manager (Monica Wright Rogers) and assistant general manager (Eli Horowitz), among others, not to mention revealed its name (Tempo), Portland has not built out its basketball operations staff. Last week, the WNBA filed trademarks for the name 'Portland Fire' and a stylized 'P' logo. The franchise is expected to reveal its name next month. Son, who was formerly the chief administrative officer of the National Basketball Players Association, was hired earlier this spring, about the same time the team broke ground on a practice facility that it will share with the Thorns. At the time, RAJ Sports managing director Mike Whitehead said Son would 'lay the groundwork for our future growth.' Advertisement This article originally appeared in The Athletic. WNBA, women's sports 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
WNBA expansion team in Portland fires president Inky Son: Reports
The WNBA expansion franchise in Portland doesn't even begin playing until 2026. It has already fired its top employee. Team president Inky Son, who was hired by the new franchise April 1, is out less than three months later, according to multiple reports. The Oregonian was the first to report the news. Advertisement RAJ Sports, which owns the fledgling franchise, as well as the Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL and other sports entities, declined to comment to The Oregonian. The WNBA awarded Portland its expansion team in September, and the team is expected to debut next season along with a new team in Toronto. But though Toronto has already hired a general manager (Monica Wright Rogers) and assistant general manager (Eli Horowitz), among others, not to mention revealed its name (Tempo), Portland has not built out its basketball operations staff. Last week, the WNBA filed trademarks for the name 'Portland Fire' and a stylized 'P' logo. The franchise is expected to reveal its name next month. The countdown is on ⏰ — WNBA Portland (@wnbaportland) June 20, 2025 Son, who was formerly the chief administrative officer of the National Basketball Players Association, was hired earlier this spring, about the same time the team broke ground on a practice facility that it will share with the Thorns. At the time, RAJ Sports managing director Mike Whitehead said Son would 'lay the groundwork for our future growth.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hazmat spill on I-205 North causes delays after crash
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A crash involving a tractor trailer and a box truck caused a hazmat spill, closing all lanes of traffic on a section of I-205 N Thursday afternoon, authorities said. At 4:45 p.m., Portland Fire & Rescue crews responded to a section of the highway between Burnside and Glisan, finding a barrel on the box truck was punctured and leaking 'unknown liquid' onto the road. The Hazardous Materials team was then called to the scene to identify the liquid. Officials said they found it was an 'acidic cleaning liquid' which was safely picked up using absorbent pellets, then discarded. All northbound lanes of I-205 were taken off the freeway and diverted around the location of the crash. Overall, authorities said traffic was affected for over two hours while officials cleaned up the scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
WNBA files trademarks for the name ‘Portland Fire' and stylized ‘P' logo
The WNBA filed trademarks for the name 'Portland Fire' and a stylized 'P' logo earlier this week, potentially indicating that the league's 15th franchise will revive the Fire name from the team that existed from 2000-02. The league's expansion to Portland was announced in September 2024, and the team will begin play in 2026 alongside the Toronto Tempo. The organization has teased an announcement for next month — a statement from a spokesperson for WNBA Portland reads, 'The countdown is on. We'll see you July 15!' The countdown is on ⏰ — WNBA Portland (@wnbaportland) June 20, 2025 If it does choose the name Fire, the new Portland team is hoping it doesn't carry the prior team's track record. The Fire had three unremarkable seasons during the WNBA's first decade, cracking .500 in their final year in the league and never qualifying for the playoffs. The franchise folded due to financial losses, one of six teams to fold by 2009. Advertisement The expansion Portland team hired Inky Son, formerly the chief administrative officer of the National Basketball Players Association, as its team president earlier this year and the organization's first employee. The organization also broke ground on its practice facility in April, a space that will be shared with the NWSL's Portland Thorns, who are also under the same ownership of RAJ Sports. However, while Toronto has hired a general manager and assistant GM among other employees, in addition to revealing its team branding, Portland has yet to build out its basketball operations staff. Both franchises will also have to hire head coaches before the expansion draft following the 2025 WNBA season. The league is still in the process of expansion and accepted bids for its 16th franchise through January. More than 10 groups submitted formal bids, but the WNBA has not yet announced a winner.
Reuters
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Portland working to rekindle Fire brand for WNBA franchise
June 20 - The Portland Fire is set to burn bright in the WNBA again as the identity of the expansion team ready to debut in 2026 begins to take shape. According to Front Office Sports, multiple trademark applications have been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the Portland Fire name. The Fire originally made their debut in the Rose City in 2000, but folded after the 2022 season despite strong support. Portland's WNBA entry went 37-59 in its three seasons with its best campaign resulting in a 16-16 record just before folding. "It was such a great franchise that was supported so well by the community," former Fire head coach Linda Hargrove told Front Office Sports. Hargrove was the only head coach the Fire had in their three seasons. The Golden State Valkyries are making their WNBA debut this season, while the Fire are set to return to the league, technically as an expansion team, alongside the new Toronto Tempo next season. That will give the league 15 teams, one shy of commissioner Cathy Engelbert's stated goal of 16 teams by 2028. --Field Level Media
