The team will compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member of the Western Conference; it is scheduled to begin play in 2026.

The league also found Brown's ownership stake in Shoot 360, a basketball training center with locations across the country, as a potential conflict of interest.

The WNBA wanted him to give up his investment, but he refused and withdrew his bid with all of the conditions required.

[6] The Bhathals began conversations with the WNBA in late 2023 after the previous attempt to bring a team to Portland fell apart.

Alex added that he and his sister became convinced that Portland was a great market for women's sports during their process of purchasing the Thorns.