PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – The W is back and the Portland Fire has been reborn, 22 years since the league last called the Rose City home.

“We all have a big vision which is to make Portland the global epicenter of women’s sports, right? Which, let’s face it, we kind of already are!” said Clare Hamill, Interim President of the Portland Fire.

A “Fireside Chat” from the Hyatt Regency at the convention center saw a panel of leaders discussing the future plans of the WNBA expansion team during Epicenter Week, a women’s global sports summit.

“We think that an investment in women’s sports is what’s going to help Portland rise again,” said Lisa Bhathal Merage, co-founder of Raj Sports, which owns the Fire as well as the Portland Thorns.

“You see the passion of the fanbase, we started looking into the community and seeing the fabric that weaves everyone together is really truly sport,” Merage said. “You can’t recreate that. It is the magic that happens here.”

Hamill recently retired from Nike before jumping back in the game to assist the Fire in rising up among the league’s best.

“We can do some things in Portland that nobody else can do, no other franchise is going to be able to do. It’s not just because there are over 60 retired WNBA athletes living in this city, they can help us invite players in,” Hamill said. “It’s not just because the most innovative brands live here who can help us do innovative things that have never happened before, it’s also because we have owners who are already innovating and doing things like the performance center.”

Former Stanford star Olympia Scott is a two-time WNBA champion who served as the Players Association President.

“I think of every fan, every player, they’re probably proud like a mother like I am,” Scott said. “When I’m thinking of the WNBA, it feels like we’re all proud parents watching this league that started in such infancy become what it is today. We’re fully grown now, aren’t we? We’re full grown because women’s basketball is on fire.”

Michelle Snow was twice a WNBA All-Star twice and lives in Portland while working for Nike in life after playing basketball.

“If this is going to be the epicenter and sports unites? Then continue doing things like this to showcase to the world what the epicenter looks like. It’s united and brings us together,” Snow said.

The ball is certainly rolling with 12,500 season ticket deposits that have been taken ahead of the Fire’s 2026 season tipping-off in the spring.

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Portland’s love for women’s sports isn’t just a slogan — it’s a movement. And this summer, that movement takes center stage with the inaugural Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit, a groundbreaking event set for Friday, July 25, at Nike World Headquarters. The summit is the centerpiece of Epicenter Week, a four-day celebration running July 23 to July 26.

Epicenter Week is designed to bridge sport, business, and innovation, bringing together athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are reshaping what’s possible in women’s sports. The summit itself, an invitation-only gathering, is presented by RAJ Sports, the ownership group behind the Portland Thorns and WNBA’s newly launched Portland Fire, with support from major partners including Nike, Front Office Sports, Travel Portland, and Sport Oregon.

This event follows on the heels of major moments that showcase Portland’s unwavering support for women’s athletics. From the electric crowd of thousands at the Portland Fire’s name reveal at the Rose Quarter Commons, to the more than 21,000 fans who packed Providence Park for the Thorns’ Pride Night in June, Portland continues to raise the bar. Now, the city is taking the next step, positioning itself not just as a supporter but as a global leader in advancing women’s sports.

“You look — we have the brands, we have the infrastructure,” said Karina LeBlanc, executive VP of strategic growth & development at RAJ Sports. “When we decided to announce a $150 million practice facility that’s made for women, the athletes, the fan base, the community — the one big thing missing was the events. In speaking to other people around here, this was our opportunity to really cement that and bring people to Portland.”

If there’s a major event in Portland about women’s sports, LeBlanc is likely involved. Her passion is deeply personal and always rooted in legacy, especially for her daughter.

“It always comes down to my daughter,” said LeBlanc. “You used to see me walk around the field with her to wave and thank the fans for coming. She’s so proud to be from Portland. I mean, we were watching the Olympics and she’s like, ‘I’m gonna play for Portland.’ You’re like — you’ve got to explain, well, Portland is not a country, right? But she loves the city like that. That city in her heart is the pride of the city. And I truly believe we are the global epicenter of women’s sports. But to really do that, we have to continue to do big events. And then, it’s for the younger version of myself.”

Throughout Epicenter Week, Portland will become a true hub for elite competition and community celebration. The week will feature international club matches hosted by the Thorns, the Nike Global Premier Cup with top U15 girls’ teams from around the world, the first public activation of Portland’s WNBA franchise, and citywide cultural events that elevate the voices and visibility of women in sports.

This isn’t just about hosting a summit, it’s about making a statement. The future of sports is female, and Portland is building it right now.

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Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit – Keynote

Lisa Bhathal Merage (co-founder, RAJ Sports), Alex Bhathal (co-founder, RAJ Sports), and Ann Miller (EVP, Global Sports Marketing, Nike) have a conversation about leading the women’s sports movement.

Lisa Bhathal Merage (co-founder, RAJ Sports), Alex Bhathal (co-founder, RAJ Sports), and Ann Miller (EVP, Global Sports Marketing, Nike) have a conversation abo

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Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit – Panel # 1

Tanya Hvizdak (VP, Global Sports Marketing, Nike), Dawn Staley (Hall of Fame Coach and 3x Olympic Gold Medalist), and Elizabeth Lindsey (Global President, Brands & Properties – Wasserman) discuss the women’s sports opportunity.

Tanya Hvizdak (VP, Global Sports Marketing, Nike), Dawn Staley (Hall of Fame Coach and 3x Olympic Gold Medalist), and Elizabeth Lindsey (Global President, Brand

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Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit – Panel # 2

Amy Jones Vaterlaus (VP, Women’s Research, Nike Sport Research Lab), Wendy Watson (President, Northwest Region, Keiser Permanente), Shalane Flanagan (Olympic Medalist, NYC Marathon Champion, University of Oregon T&F Coach) discuss “The Science of Winning Differently”. The panel is moderated by Sarah Spain (Host, iHeart Podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, the first and only daily women’s sports show).

Amy Jones Vaterlaus, Wendy Watson, Shalane Flanagan, and Sarah Spain discuss “The Science of Winning Differently.”

Copyright 2025 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.

Firefighters are starting to get the upper hand on the Cram Fire burning in central Oregon.

CONTINUING COVERAGE |

On Sunday, July 20, fire managers announced that the fire is now 49% contained and has burned 95,748 acres.

“Cooler temperatures and higher humidity are creating better conditions for mop-up work, especially along the fire perimeter and around structures,” fire managers said in a post on Facebook.

On Sunday, crews will focus on the southern edge of the fire. They will focus on reducing materials that have the possibility of fueling spot fires.

Two Oregon State Fire Marshal structural task forces headed back to their home districts. The Clatsop County and Marion County task forces were demobilized at 8 a.m. this morning.

“Remaining personnel will continue working around structures to extinguish hot spots and ensure any lingering threats to homes are addressed,” fire managers stated.

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity have aided firefighters by continuing to moderate fire behavior. Meteorologists say a slight chance of thunderstorms and showers is in the forecast for Monday.

Evacuations still exist for parts of Jefferson, Wasco, and Crook Counties. You can check each county’s evacuation map for more information.

The Cram Fire began on Sunday, July 13. Four homes and two structures have been destroyed.