Portland Fire ignites anticipation with a visual rebirth, blending city pride and iconic branding into two striking Nike uniforms for their 2026 WNBA comeback.
The Portland Fire took another visible step toward their long-awaited return to the WNBA on Wednesday, unveiling their inaugural set of uniforms and secondary “PDX” branding ahead of the franchise’s 2026 debut season.
The reveal marked a defining moment for the Fire, who will re-enter the league next year with a visual identity designed to blend modern aesthetics with deep connections to the city they represent. The team will wear two Nike designs during the season: the WNBA Nike Heroine Edition and the WNBA Nike Explorer Edition, both created with Portland’s geography, culture and history in mind.
The Heroine Edition features a white base with “Fire” across the chest, a straightforward but symbolic choice meant to emphasize the city’s passion for the franchise and the league. The Explorer Edition offers a bold contrast, built around a red base that nods to the Fire’s original run in Portland while reintroducing the color as part of a new era.
While the colorways are distinct, the uniforms are unified through subtle detailing tied to the team’s newly introduced “PDX” branding. Along the side tape of each jersey, the design mirrors the flowing shapes found in the PDX logo, an intentional reference to the Willamette River that cuts through the heart of the city.
That same inspiration is central to the Fire’s new secondary marks, which were unveiled alongside the uniforms. The PDX logo expands on the team’s previously announced stylized “P,” which incorporates visual nods to Mount Hood and the Moda Center, the Fire’s home arena.
In the updated design, the bodies of the “P” and “D” draw from the curves of the Willamette River, symbolizing strength and connection. The lower point of the “D” highlights “PDX” as both Portland’s airport code and a point of arrival, representing the Fire’s return to the market in 2026. The “X” is intentionally sharper and more expressive, meant to reflect Portland’s reputation for individuality and conviction.
Those themes, team officials said, are meant to resonate beyond aesthetics and into the identity the Fire hope to establish on the court.
Portland Fire Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kimberly Veale framed the reveal as more than a design announcement, emphasizing how closely the process was tied to the city’s character and the franchise’s future.
“Our 2026 jerseys are an embodiment of this new era of the team: bold, innovative, and resilient,” Veale said.
She explained that the design choices were rooted in both history and momentum as the Fire prepare for their first season back.
“Every element was shaped with Portland in mind, honoring our legacy while capturing the spirit and energy of this incredible city we represent,” Veale said. “As we prepare for our debut season in May, our athletes, and fans alike, will embody that ethos when wearing a Fire jersey.”
Both uniforms also feature the team’s jersey patch partner, Chime, positioned on the upper left shoulder.
Fans will have immediate access to the new look. Custom Portland Fire Nike Explorer Edition jerseys went on sale Wednesday, and the team also released a PDX-themed retail capsule collection that includes Nike t-shirts, outerwear, polos and additional apparel built around the new branding.
The uniform and logo launch comes as momentum continues to build around the Fire’s return to the WNBA. Owned by RAJ Sports and led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, the franchise is positioning itself as both a revival and a reset, reconnecting with the original Fire while laying the foundation for long-term growth.
Looking ahead, the organization is also preparing to open a first-of-its-kind dual-sport women’s performance center in 2026. The 100,000-square-foot facility will house both the Fire and the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, underscoring Portland’s expanding role as a hub for women’s professional sports.
As the Fire count down to tipoff next spring, the newly unveiled uniforms and PDX branding offer an early signal of how the franchise intends to present itself — rooted in place, expressive in design, and unapologetically forward-looking as it returns to the league.