Portland is going all in on women’s sports, with RAJ Sports — the ownership group behind both the NWSL’s Thorns and Portland’s incoming WNBA team — announcing the development of a new $150 million sports performance complex on Thursday.
The 12-acre dual-sport performance center will be the first-ever facility housing both a pro women’s soccer squad and a pro women’s basketball team.
Innovation and amenities lead Portland design
At 63,000 square feet, the incoming NWSL x WNBA training facility will feature two basketball courts, two soccer pitches, a 17,000-square-foot practice gym, a state-of-the-art strength training facility, and a laundry list of additional top-of-the-line amenities.
According to the Thorns’ announcement, the center aims to “[elevate] the standard of athletic development by integrating cutting-edge training, advanced recovery, and holistic wellness with lifestyle elements specific to the needs of female athletes in a collaborative multi-team setting.”
The wellness additions include recovery lounges and pools, hyperbaric therapy, red-light therapy, and a yoga and pilates room, plus access to a full-time chef and nutritionist via the center’s kitchen and dining hall.
“This kind of high-performance training facility allows us to elevate every part of our game, becoming better and more well-rounded athletes,” said Thorns forward Sophia Wilson (née Smith).
“Having a space designed specifically for female athletes gives us yet another leg up on the competition and will be vital to our future successes.”
Portland joins other WNBA and NWSL teams building own facilities
Portland is just the latest in a wave of women’s teams across top-tier US leagues breaking ground on dedicated performance facilities.
Earlier this week, WNBA newcomer Golden State unveiled their own custom-built Valkyries Performance Center. Last month, NWSL side Angel City cut the ribbon on their dedicated training facility.
RAJ Sports’ effort to continue the investment trend comes barely a year after their January 2024 purchase of the Thorns. That move was finalized a little over eight months before the WNBA accepted their expansion bid, making the Bhathal family — who also have a stake in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings — the first-ever ownership group to oversee pro women’s teams in two different sports.
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