How to Watch Portland Women's Sports
Three professional teams, six national broadcast partners, one local station that carries them all. Here's every way to watch the Thorns, Fire, and Cascade in 2026.
The Portland Answer: Rose City SportsNet
If you live in Portland and want one channel for women's sports: Rose City SportsNet (KPDX, channel 49). It's the regional broadcast home for both the Portland Fire and Portland Thorns. Gray Media announced the partnership on February 24, 2026. Fire games include pregame and postgame shows produced by Raycom Sports. Thorns get expanded match clearance and weekly storytelling segments. Select Fire games also simulcast on FOX 12 (KPTV, channel 12).
This is free, over-the-air television. No cable subscription required. If you have an antenna, you have Rose City SportsNet.
Next Games
Portland Thorns (NWSL)
30 regular-season games. Six national broadcast partners for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
| Platform | What It Carries | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Rose City SportsNet (KPDX 49.1, formerly FOX 12 Plus) | Portland's regional broadcast home. Expanded match clearance. | Free over-the-air (antenna) or cable channel 49 |
| CBS / KOIN 6 | 10 regular-season games on CBS (airs locally on KOIN 6), 20 on CBS Sports Network, championship | Free over-the-air (CBS) or cable (CBSSN). Streaming on Paramount+ |
| ESPN / ESPN2 | 36 games including all 8 Decision Day matches, playoff games | Cable or ESPN+ / Disney+ |
| Amazon Prime Video | 27 regular-season games | Prime membership ($14.99/mo) |
| ION Television | 50 Saturday night games (Scripps Sports) | Free over-the-air or cable |
| Victory+ | 57 games including 25 Sunday primetime broadcasts | Victory+ app (free ad-supported or subscription) |
| NWSL+ | 40 out-of-market games not on national TV | NWSL+ subscription |
The NWSL's media deal runs 2024 through 2027. For the 2026 and 2027 seasons, the league expanded agreements with CBS Sports and ESPN and added Victory+ as a fifth broadcast partner. Total NWSL games with national distribution in 2026: 248 across all partners. Check each game's broadcast on the full Thorns schedule.
Radio: All Thorns matches air on KNRK-HD2, with 10 select games simulcast on 910 ESPN Portland. Play-by-play: Lily Crane. Analyst rotation includes Angela Harrison (former University of Portland goalkeeper). Audacy partnership announced April 6, 2026.
Portland Fire (WNBA)
44 regular-season games. The WNBA's new 11-year, $2.2 billion media deal starts in 2026.
| Platform | What It Carries | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Rose City SportsNet (KPDX 49.1, formerly FOX 12 Plus) | Portland's exclusive local broadcast home. All available games. Pregame + postgame shows. | Free over-the-air (antenna) or cable channel 49 |
| ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 | 25+ regular-season games on Disney platforms | ABC free over-the-air. ESPN via cable or ESPN+ / Disney+ |
| NBC / USA Network | 50 regular-season games on NBCU platforms | NBC free over-the-air. USA Network via cable. Streaming on Peacock |
| Amazon Prime Video | 30 regular-season games streamed globally | Prime membership ($14.99/mo) |
| CBS | 20 games on broadcast television | Free over-the-air (KOIN 6 locally) |
| ION Television | Friday night WNBA games (Scripps deal, 15 weeks May to Sept) | Free over-the-air or cable |
| WNBA League Pass | Out-of-market games live and on-demand. Blacked out for local (Rose City SportsNet) and national TV games. | wnba.com/leaguepass or WNBA App |
The WNBA's new media deal (2026 through 2036) is valued at $2.2 billion, roughly $200 million per year. That's more than three times the previous deal. Over 125 regular-season and playoff games will air nationally each season. The Fire's inaugural season will have more national TV exposure than any expansion team in WNBA history. Check each game's broadcast on the full Fire schedule.
Radio: All Fire games air on 910 ESPN Portland (KMTT-AM). Audacy partnership announced April 6, 2026.
Portland Cascade (AUSL)
25 regular-season games. 2026 broadcasts span ESPN platforms, CBS Sports Network, MLB Network, and MLB.TV.
| Platform | What It Carries | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) | 50+ games across the season | Cable or Disney+ |
| ABC | The Championship game (July 25). First professional softball on US network television. | Free over-the-air |
| CBS Sports Network | About 20 exclusive games (carried the June 9 opener) | Cable / streaming |
| MLB Network / MLB.TV | About 11 games on MLB Network, plus select free streams on MLB.TV | Cable / MLB.TV |
The AUSL's inaugural 2026 season marks a milestone: professional softball across ESPN platforms, CBS Sports Network, and MLB Network, with the AUSL Championship on ABC (July 2026) the first on US network television. The Cascade's June 9 opener aired on CBS Sports Network. The Cascade play at Hillsboro Ballpark, and they reached the AUSL playoffs as the No. 3 seed in their inaugural season. Deeper reading: What is the AUSL?, full Cascade schedule, meet the roster, and what to expect at a game.
Watch in Portland
The Sports Bra (2512 NE Broadway) shows every Thorns, Fire, and Cascade game. It's the world's first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women's sports. If you want to watch with other fans, this is the place.
Spirit of 77 (500 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd) in the Lloyd District carries games and is walking distance from Moda Center.
Can't make it to the stadium? Can't make it to a bar? Rose City SportsNet with an antenna is your free, no-subscription option for Fire and Thorns home games.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I watch the Portland Thorns on TV?
Thorns games air nationally on CBS, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, ION (Saturday nights), and Victory+ (Sunday primetime). Locally, Rose City SportsNet (KPDX 49.1, formerly FOX 12 Plus) is the regional broadcast home. KOIN 6, Portland's CBS affiliate, carries games in the CBS national broadcast window. Out-of-market games stream on NWSL+. Full Thorns schedule with broadcast info.
How can I watch the Portland Fire on TV?
Fire games air nationally on ABC, ESPN/ESPN2, NBC, USA Network, CBS, Amazon Prime Video, and ION (Friday nights). Locally, Rose City SportsNet (KPDX 49.1, formerly FOX 12 Plus) is the exclusive local broadcast home with pregame and postgame shows. Select games simulcast on FOX 12 (KPTV). Streaming on Peacock, ESPN platforms, and Prime Video. Full Fire schedule.
How can I watch the Portland Cascade?
AUSL games air across ESPN platforms (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU), CBS Sports Network (about 20 exclusive games), MLB Network, and MLB.TV. The Cascade's June 9 opener aired on CBS Sports Network. The Championship game on ABC (July 25) is the first professional softball game on US network television. The Cascade play at Hillsboro Ballpark.
What is Rose City SportsNet?
Rose City SportsNet (KPDX, channel 49) is operated by Gray Media and serves as the regional broadcast home for both the Portland Fire and Portland Thorns. The partnership was announced February 24, 2026. Fire coverage includes pregame and postgame shows produced by Raycom Sports. Thorns coverage includes expanded match clearance and weekly storytelling segments. It's free over-the-air with an antenna.
Where can I watch Portland women's sports at a bar?
The Sports Bra (2512 NE Broadway) is the world's first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women's sports. They show every Thorns, Fire, and Cascade game. Spirit of 77 (500 NE MLK Blvd) in the Lloyd District also carries games and is walking distance from Moda Center for pregame. Both are accessible by MAX Light Rail.
Do I need cable to watch Portland women's sports?
No. Many games are available free over-the-air: Rose City SportsNet (Fire and Thorns local games), CBS/KOIN 6 (NWSL and WNBA national windows), ABC (select WNBA and AUSL games), NBC (WNBA games), and ION (NWSL Saturday nights, WNBA Friday nights). For streaming without cable: Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN+, Paramount+, Victory+, and NWSL+ cover different games across the three leagues.
Sources: NWSLsoccer.com, WNBA.com, KPTV (Rose City SportsNet launch), fire.wnba.com (original Gray Media partnership), fire.wnba.com (Portland Fire+ streaming launch), ESPN, Front Office Sports. Fan-curated reference: r/PortlandFire — Everything You Need to Know to Watch Portland Fire Games (FAQ thread by u/waterkisser, the most thorough cable/OTA/translator guide on the internet). Broadcast assignments for individual games may change. Check team schedules for game-by-game details.