Klay Thompson of the Dallas Mavericks expressed his excitement on social media on Thursday after learning that Portland will have a WNBA expansion team. Thompson, who grew up primarily in Oregon, showed off his excitement on Instagram by reposting a Portland Thorns FC post.

The return of a WNBA team to Portland has sparked memories of the Fire, which gained a dedicated fan base in its short two-year run. Stiles, whose career was cut short by injuries, became a household name in Portland, and her connection to the city clearly resonated with Thompson, who spent his formative years in the Portland area.

Jackie Stiles was a member of the short-lived Portland Fire when the team was a member of the WNBA more than 20 years ago. Stiles said she’s looking forward to the new franchise amid a sharp rise in popularity of the league this year. “I’m thrilled ...