WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert touted expansion club Portland Fire during her team visit on Thursday by saying that she would give the organization an “A” grade so far in its inaugural season, according to Ryan Clarke of the Portland OREGONIAN. Engelbert said, “It’s really hard to stand up a team. You’re like a startup. And if you think about the business community, when you have a startup, it takes five to six years.” She added, “I’m just so proud of what’s been done here, and I think when they open this performance center, that’s gonna be a great lift as well for the team and the players.” Engelbert: “They’ve made a lot of really good decisions that could have gone another way, but they have really killed it. And, obviously, the fan base here is incredible.” The commissioner mentioned that she recently toured the Kaiser Permanente Performance Center, which is projected to open in August, with the Bhathals, who run RAJ Sports. She said she is “really thrilled with what they’re doing there. It looks amazing, and hopefully in a month or two we’ll be able to see the fruits of that labor” (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/11).
Engelbert gives Portland Fire an ‘A’ for WNBA debut
