Hot off the full-court press 🏀

Sport leaders, Wyden woo WNBA commissioner in bid for Portland team

Portland said goodbye to women’s professional basketball just over 20 years ago. Now, local politicians, sport leaders, and the WNBA commissioner herself are stoking the fire for a possible return to Rose City.

*Insert deafening applause here*

Growing fandom is at the top of the WNBA’s agenda, commissioner Cathy Engelbert said during her visit to Portland this week where she met with US Sen. Ron Wyden, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University women’s basketball coaches, and execs representing the Trail Blazers and Portland Thorns.

Seven people sit in booths behind a long line of tables at a sports pub. — Sport leaders and Sen. Wyden met with Cathy Engelbert (third from right) at The Sports Bra.

The group’s mission? To convince Engelbert that Portland would be the perfect host for a WNBA team.

“This is a city that supports women,” said Thorns General Manager Karina LeBlanc. “Leading a women’s team that understands their purpose and their reason in the city, they want another sisterhood to do that with.”

The WNBA is looking to add up to two new franchises and Portland is one of ~20 cities vying to host a team. Financial backing and community support for NCAA sports are the biggest factors under consideration. “Can you imagine the competition between women in Portland and women in Seattle?” said Wyden. “That will be vintage Pacific Northwest basketball.”

Engelbert said the new team(s) could be added within a few years.

Here’s a quick timeline of Portland’s professional women’s basketball history.

1996-1998: Before the WNBA was born, the Portland Power played in the American Basketball League.

2002-2002: The Portland Fire played in the WNBA for three seasons, finishing with 37 wins in 96 games and never qualifying for the playoffs. But the team enjoyed huge fan support with more than 8,000 people attending each home game.

September 2022: Wyden sent letters to Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, advocating for WNBA expansion to Portland. Such a move “would be a slam-dunk success for the city and the league,” he wrote.

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Wednesday, Feb. 8

Bridgetown Trivia | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 7 p.m. | Schilling Cider House, 930 SE 10th Ave., Portland | Free | Put your knowledge to the test and play for a chance to win prizes.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Boardgames 101 | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 6-9 p.m. | The 4th Wall PDX, 1445 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland | Free | Learn to play a popular tabletop game, including a cooperative option where everyone works together to win or lose as a team, with guidance from the experts at Portland Game Library.

Friday, Feb. 10

Portland Night Market | Friday, Feb. 10-Saturday, Feb. 11 | 4-11 p.m. | 100 SE Alder St., Portland | Free | Find special gifts, home goods, food, clothing, jewelry, and more created by 175+ local vendors at this themed market with music and drinks.
Black History Festival NW | Friday, Feb. 10-Tuesday, Feb. 28 | Locations vary | Prices vary | From flash mob dances and drag shows to educational displays and intimate luncheons, these events invite people to “celebrate, honor, and elevate the rich tapestry of the African Diaspora in the PNW.”

Saturday, Feb. 11

My Muddy Valentine | Saturday, Feb. 11 | 9 a.m. | Plumper Pumpkin Patch & Tree Farm, 11435 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd., Portland | $55-$100 | New courses, new obstacles, and lots of mud await runners — followed by hot showers, changing rooms, beer, food, and games.
Vegan Speed Dating - Valentine’s Day Edition! | Saturday, Feb. 11 | 6-9 p.m. | Ki Coffee & Brunch, 4655 SW Griffith Dr. Ste. 160, Beaverton | $30 | Munch on vegan treats and sip a themed cocktail or mocktail while mixing and mingling with other like-minded singles.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE RAINY DAY FUN

Weather

50º | Mostly cloudy | 13% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:22 a.m.
Set: 5:27 p.m.

Today Is

… Portland’s 172nd birthday. Business partners Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove flipped a penny to choose the city’s name in 1845; Portland was officially incorporated six years later on Feb. 8, 1851. Just think — we could all be “Bostonians” if the toss had been in Lovejoy’s favor. 🎉

Arts

The new owners of Old Town’s Horizon Enterprise Building — Cyrus Coleman and Adewale “Wale” Agboola — want to create an “epicenter and incubator for BIPOC creativity in Portland.” They’re raising $1.6 million to renovate the 20,000-sqft building, adding a gallery, a speakeasy, a maker studio, and an apartment for visiting artists. 🖌️ (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Cause

This Saturday, Feb. 11, Chosen Family Wines in Newberg will host a fundraising event for Our Legacy Harvested, a local nonprofit supporting members of the BIPOC community within the wine industry. Join Chosen Family Wines owner and NBA champion Channing Frye for food, flights, and music, 12-4 p.m.

Portlander

Matthew Marcus did it again. The local software developer clinched his fourth consecutive win on “Jeopardy!” last night. Thursday’s episode will pit him against another Portlander: writer Mira Hayward. The odds of hometown glory are better, but who the heck are we supposed to root for? 🏆 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Tech

Portland park rangers will get to spend more time at parks and less time on paperwork thanks to a new partnership with public safety tech startup Mark43. The company’s record management system will streamline the record-keeping process for things like off-leash dog violations, pet waste issues, and illegal dumping. 📝

Number

$4.4 million. That’s how much grant money Oregon is giving to 10 tree nurseries to help them grow “badly needed seedlings” for the millions of acres battered by wildfires, diseases, and pests. Scholls Valley Native Nursery in Forest Grove is among the recipients thanks to its experience growing commercial conifers. 🌲

Biz

A Vancouver-based company that makes hands-free augmented reality headsets for factory and construction workers plans to go public. RealWear said it will merge with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, in a deal valued at nearly $376 million. 📈 (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Try This

If your Valentine loves chocolate and whiskey, check out Westward Whiskey’s Southeast Portland tasting room for a new immersive experience. For an extra $14 per person, you can upgrade a regular tasting flight reservation to include four flagship whiskeys paired with locally made chocolates, available now through the spring. 🥃

Answered

A big thank you to the 50+ readers who took our January news quiz. Alexis E. had a perfect score, while Christine L., Mia A., and Mary B. all came close. Consider this a virtual high-five. Look for another pop quiz from us toward the end of February.

Wellness

Not feeling like yourself lately? Talkspace makes getting help easy and convenient. With live chat, video, and audio sessions, starting at $69/week, it’s affordable for everyone to fit therapy into their lifestyle, with or without insurance. Start feeling better today with Talkspace. *

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Black History Month events

Black History Month events in Portland, OR

A black-and-white photo of three men standing near a microphone and a parking meter with a van parked on the curb behind them.

Left to right: Portland Black Panthers leaders/members Kent Ford, Freddie Whitlow, and Percy Hampton demonstrate at the federal courthouse. | Photo via Portland Archives

Several organizations across the Portland area are recognizing and honoring Black History Month throughout February. Read on to find new ways to get connected and educated around our city.

In My Shoes
Community ambassadors for the nonprofit leadership program Word is Bond will lead 45-minute walking tours through eight local neighborhoods, sharing insights into why they matter to the young men who live there.

Where: King, New Columbia, Woodlawn, Goose Hollow, Montavilla, Parkrose, and Albina neighborhoods, and Vancouver, WA
When: Saturdays, Feb. 11-25, times vary
Cost: $25 sliding scale donation

All Power to the People
This three-day event honoring Kent Ford, a founding member of the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party, features a panel conversation, a screening of a Vanport Mosaic-produced documentary, a performance of “Walking through Portland with a Panther,” and more.

Where: Historic Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave.
When: Friday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 26, times vary
Cost: $5-$10

3 MORE EVENTS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Cambrie.

Editor’s pick: Remember when we asked you to name a Portland WNBA team? Well... we’re putting the ball back in your court and asking you to share your ideas again.

Last time, ~20 readers voted for bringing back the Portland Fire. Most respondents got creative with names like the Portland Bridgers, Rose Gold, Portland BRAssiers, Portland Roses, and the Larks in honor of Oregon’s state bird.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Take your small business dreams to new heights with these local resources.

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Editorial: Cambrie Juarez, Ben McBee, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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