The expansion of a WNBA team in Portland will be postponed for a while it seems.

As per reports from various media outlets on Wednesday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert wrote a letter to U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), stating that Portland’s application for a new club would be “deferred” because of the upcoming renovation of the city’s NBA arena.

According to the reports, Engelbert mentioned that due to “the potential renovation of the Moda Center currently anticipated to take place during consecutive summers, consideration of a WNBA franchise for Portland will be deferred for now until the timing and scope of the arena improvements are settled.”

The commissioner reiterated that Portland is still seen as “an ideal destination for a WNBA franchise.”

The Oregonian newspaper reported that Blazers chair Jody Allen was ready to delay the Moda Center construction, previously scheduled for 2026-27, so that a WNBA team could have several seasons of play at the arena before a one-year temporary relocation.

Kirk Brown, co-founder of ZoomInfo, was set to be the owner of the Portland WNBA franchise.

Portland previously had a WNBA team, the Fire, from 2000-02.

The WNBA, which currently comprises 12 teams, concluded its 2023 season last month with the Las Vegas Aces winning against the New York Liberty in the Finals with a three games to one score.

The Golden State Warriors are set to possess an expansion team that is planned to commence play in 2025 at the NBA’s team arena in San Francisco.

Portland was expected to be the league’s 14th club.