“Women’s sports is on a trajectory that men’s sports has been on,” Kim Stone, CEO of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, said. “It’s just present time instead of past time.” One thing cementing that claim? The projects in place to ensure top-drawer quality for the full player experience.

Over the last year, 8 women’s pro teams have reportedly either announced new training facilities or are under construction/ renovation. One among them was the Portland Thorns alongside its WNBA expansion team. Populous and RAJ Sports, the sports investment platform for the Bhathal Family, have inaugurated a groundbreaking women’s performance center serving the two. With the W franchise expected to arrive in 2026, a welcome is in place. And what is it really like?

What is the new Portland Thorns dual-sport training facility?

The Portland Thorns and the city’s brand-new WNBA team are teaming up to share a cutting-edge training facility in Hillsboro, Oregon — the world’s first sports performance center built exclusively for women. Sitting on 12 acres of former Nike land, this $150 M+ powerhouse will be the first pro training hub shared by two American women’s teams. This will boost the local sporting economy and bring back the sporting culture in the city.

For the players, it will be a facility with the best conditions to train in.

What facilities does the Portland Thorns dual-sport training facility provide?

The 60,000-square-foot facility will have a massive 17,000-square-foot practice gym, along with two full-size basketball courts, two full-size soccer pitches, and an outdoor training zone. The complex will also pack a 5,000-square-foot strength training center, complete with a yoga and Pilates studio, an elite training core program, and a full lineup of other top-tier athletic amenities.

“You walk in and on the left side you’ll have like the Olympic Village of eating, the biggest names of the WNBA sitting down and eating with the biggest names of the NWSL,” said Raj Sports EVP/Strategic Growth Development Karina LeBlanc. The performance levels of both the football teams and the basketball teams will be elevated to another level with a facility like this.

When will the Portland Thorns dual-sport training facility be inaugurated?

The new facility officially broke ground on April 22, 2025, with many of Portland’s top dignitaries on hand. Around 300 invited guests packed a kickoff event at the Moda Center, featuring the Bhathals, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, and other state and local leaders.

Now with the construction in place, the facility is slated to be ready before the 2026 WNBA season, just in time for Portland’s new team to hit the court.