The WNBA’s Portland franchise has reportedly fired its first employee, president Inky Son, just three weeks before the team is expected to launch its brand. The decision was attributed to ‘growing pains’ and a ‘rocky’ rollout, raising questions about the future of the expansion team.
Son was hired in April as the first employee of the WNBA’s Portland franchise. Prior to joining Portland, Son was the chief administrative officer for the National Basketball Players Association. She expressed excitement about the opportunity to bring back a WNBA franchise to Portland, a city known for its love of basketball and support for women’s sports.
Mike Whitehead, managing director of RAJ Sports, the parent company of the Portland WNBA franchise, expressed confidence in Son after she was hired. ‘As the very first employee of the organization, In’t will lay the groundwork for our future growth, and we are confident her leadership will drive the franchise to new heights, creating a lasting impact both in Portland and across the WNBA,’ Whitehead said in a statement in April after Son was hired.
Son’s responsibilities included overseeing all aspects of the business, such as marketing, ticket and sponsorship sales, community relations, finance, legal, and human resources. Her dismissal came as the team was preparing to announce its official name, with the WNBA Portland X account posting a countdown to July 15, suggesting the name revelation might occur around that time.
The WNBA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment about Son’s reported dismissal. The incident has sparked discussions about the challenges of launching a new WNBA franchise, particularly in a market that has already shown support for women’s sports. Analysts are now closely watching to see how the team will proceed without its first executive and whether the new leadership can stabilize the franchise’s trajectory.