Portland Fire, Thorns Open First Joint Practice Facility

The WNBA's Portland Fire and the NWSL's Portland Thorns have inaugurated a groundbreaking joint practice facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. The Kaiser Permanente Performance Center features a 63,000-square-foot training space equipped with state-of-the-art resources tailored for the Portland women's sports teams. Lisa Bhathal Merage, the Fire and Thorns' owner, emphasized their family's commitment to investing in both teams and the Portland metro region upon acquiring them.

The newly established facility is poised to revolutionize women's sports by providing an unparalleled environment for athletes. Merage stated that the objective is to establish the most inclusive and welcoming setting for athletes, staff, supporters, fans, partners, and the community, aiming to become an elite organization on the field, court, and within the community.

The Fire's new facility encompasses a 17,000-square-foot practice gym, complete with two full-size basketball courts. Meanwhile, the Thorns will utilize two full-sized soccer pitches, along with an outdoor training zone. Both teams will benefit from shared amenities such as a dining room staffed by a full-time chef and nutritionist, a training core program, strength training facilities, and dedicated rooms for family gatherings, team meetings, and social media content creation. The official unveiling of this innovative facility took place on Saturday.