Sports in Portland, Oregon facts for kids

Portland, Oregon, in the United States, is a city that loves sports! It's home to three big professional teams: the Portland Trail Blazers for basketball, the Portland Timbers for men's soccer, and the Portland Thorns FC for women's soccer. Besides these, Portland hosts many other fun sports and events.

Top Sports Teams in Portland

Basketball Action

The Portland Trail Blazers have been playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 1970. They've made it to the NBA Finals three times (in 1977, 1990, and 1992) and even won an NBA Championship in 1977! Some amazing former players, like Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler, are now in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The team has also honored players like Terry Porter by retiring their jersey numbers.

Dog Sports Fun

The Dog Fanciers of Oregon (DFAO) has been putting on dog shows in Portland since 1948. These shows are the biggest dog events in the Pacific Northwest! Every January, they host the Rose City Classic dog shows. Dogs compete in many activities like obedience, agility, and scent work. Young handlers, aged 9-18, can also show off their skills with their dogs.

Ice Hockey Thrills

The Portland Winterhawks have been playing ice hockey in the city since 1976. They play their home games at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Winterhawks have won three league championships (in 1982, 1998, and 2013).

Soccer Excitement

Providence Park is where the Portland Timbers (MLS) play their home games.

The Portland Timbers joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2011. Before that, there were other Timbers teams in Portland going back to 1975. They play at Providence Park, where over 20,000 fans often fill the stadium. The Timbers are very popular and often sell out their games! In 2015, they made history by winning the MLS Cup, becoming the first team in the Northwest to do so.

The Portland Thorns FC and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) started in 2012. The Thorns won the very first NWSL championship in 2013. They won again in 2017 and 2022, making them the team with the most NWSL titles! The Thorns have also led the league in attendance every year since they started.

Baseball in Portland

Professional baseball was played in Portland for many years, from 1901 until 2010. The Portland Beavers were a well-known team for a long time.

Today, the Portland Pickles are a popular team in the West Coast League. They play at Walker Stadium in Southeast Portland. In 2020, they even started their own league called the Wild Wild West League! The Hillsboro Hops also play nearby in Hillsboro. They are a "farm team" for the Arizona Diamondbacks and play in the High-A West league.

List of Current Teams

College Sports Teams

Portland has two big college sports programs in NCAA Division I. These are the Portland Pilots from the University of Portland and the Portland State Vikings from Portland State University.

The Portland State Vikings play sports like football, basketball, soccer, and track and field. Their football team plays at Providence Park. The Portland Pilots compete in sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and tennis.

Other Sports and Activities

Portland is also home to many other exciting sports teams and activities:

• Australian Rules Football: Portland has a club with both men's (Steelheads) and women's (Sockeyes) teams. They have won national championships!
• Roller Derby: The Rose City Rollers is a popular all-female league with several teams. There's also a men's league called Portland Men's Roller Derby.
• Rugby: Portland has several men's and women's rugby teams that compete in different leagues.
• Ultimate Frisbee: The Portland Nitro play in the American Ultimate Disc League.
• Underwater Hockey: Portland has a team called the Portland Rockfish.
• Tennis: Team Portland Tennis is a group for gay and lesbian players that hosts a big tournament every Labor Day weekend.
• Touch Rugby: The Portland Hunters team has won national championships multiple times.
• Paintball: The Portland Naughty Dogs compete in national professional paintball tournaments.
• Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): Portland is a big center for MMA, with famous training camps like Team Quest.
• Electric Hockey: This is a new sport designed for power chair users, allowing people with disabilities to play a game similar to hockey.

Past Sports Teams

Baseball History

The Portland Beavers were a professional baseball team that played in Portland for many years. They were part of the Pacific Coast League. The team moved away in 2010. Other baseball teams like the Portland Mavericks and Portland Rockies also played in the city.

Football Teams

Portland had two Arena Football League (AFL) teams. The Portland Thunder played from 2014 to 2015, and then changed their name to the Portland Steel for the 2016 season before the team stopped playing. Before them, the Portland Forest Dragons played in the AFL from 1997 to 1999.

Other Past Teams

• The Portland Power (basketball) played from 1996 to 1998.
• The Portland Breakers (football) played in 1985.
• The Portland LumberJax (lacrosse) played in the National Lacrosse League.
• The Portland Fire (women's basketball) played from 2000 to 2002.
• The Portland Buckaroos (hockey) played in different leagues over many years.
• The Portland Rosebuds were early professional hockey teams. One Rosebuds team even played in the Stanley Cup finals in 1916!

More Sports and Fun in Portland

A view of downtown Portland with Mount Hood in the background.

• Golf: The Portland Classic is a professional women's golf tournament that has been held in Portland since 1972. It's the oldest continuous event on the LPGA Tour!
• Auto Racing: Portland International Raceway hosts big races like the Grand Prix of Portland for Indycar. There are also many other car races and events throughout the year.
• Skiing and Snowboarding: These are super popular because Mount Hood is nearby! You can even ski year-round at Timberline.
• Rock Climbing: Many people enjoy rock climbing outdoors in Portland. It's a great way to practice for bigger mountain climbs.
• Running: Portland is a big center for running, with major sports companies like Nike and Adidas having offices here. The Portland Marathon is held every year. The Hood to Coast Relay is the world's largest running relay race, with thousands of runners going from Mount Hood to the Pacific Ocean!
• Horse Racing: Horses used to race at Portland Meadows until 2019.
• Cycling: Amateur cycling races happen weekly at the Alpenrose Velodrome.
• Cricket: Portland has its own cricket league called the Oregon Cricket League (OCL), with teams playing different versions of the game.