Portland WNBA Expansion Franchise Raises Eyebrows With Stunning Move Before Debut

The WNBA's Portland expansion franchise reportedly fired team president Inky Son just three months after hiring her and a mere three weeks before the expected rollout of their brand identity.

Jun 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; The Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks go for the ball at tipoff at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images | Grace Smith/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images

In a stunning turn of events, Inky Son, president of Portland’s upcoming WNBA expansion team, has reportedly been fired. The franchise—rumored to be reviving the name “Portland Fire” based on recent trademark filings—is now less than three weeks away from a teased unveiling of the franchise’s official brand identity, yet suddenly finds itself without a leader at the helm.

BREAKING: The Portland franchise fired President Inky Son this week, less than three months after announcing her hiring. 😳 pic.twitter.com/hGXB92I4b1

— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) June 27, 2025

According to Bill Oram at The Oregonian/OregonLive, Son was hired in April, and since, sources talked about major “growing pains” during a “rocky” rollout for the Portland expansion team.

RAJ Sports (parent company of the franchise) issued a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive, saying, “We do not comment on individual staffing decisions as a matter of company policy,” which didn’t do much to clear up the growing questions surrounding Son’s abrupt departure.

https://t.co/CJB9g45v7n pic.twitter.com/Ec7xXyHWGG

— $ham⚜️ (@ShamBreakDaBank) June 27, 2025

Portland is one of two expansion teams joining the WNBA in 2026, the other being the Toronto Tempo, who were announced as the newest team in the league four months before Portland, yet appear to be buttoned up and well ahead of schedule—an area the Portland franchise currently seems to be falling behind.

While Portland has just begun hiring staff and is still without a general manager, Toronto named Monica Wright Rogers as GM back in February and rolled out its full brand identity nearly 18 months before they hit the court for the first time.

For a franchise without a full support staff, official colors, or even a locked-in name, it’s safe to assume the leadership of Portland’s WNBA team is scrambling to manage the chaos. But with just ten months until its official tip-off, the clock is ticking for Portland to get their ducks in a row.