February 5, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Portland Thorns FC News Release
PORTLAND, Ore. – A month after acquiring the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), new club owners RAJ Sports joined with top local leaders and community members at Providence Park to celebrate the beginning of the next era of the Thorns organization.
Representing RAJ Sports were new NWSL Governor Lisa Bhathal Merage and NWSL Alternate Governor Alex Bhathal, as well as their parents Marta Bhathal and Raj Bhathal.
“Our family is deeply humbled and honored to join the Thorns community,” said Ms. Bhathal Merage. “Portland’s deep and long-standing love for the Thorns means the world to us, and we could not be more excited to take on the responsibility of guiding an incredible organization to even newer heights in the years ahead.”
Additional speakers included Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. League Commissioner Jessica Berman, and Portland Thorns General Manager and President of Thorns FC Operations Karina Le Blanc.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lisa and Alex to the League and to Portland specifically,” said Commissioner Berman. “Each are proven leaders in the world of professional sports and beyond, and they bring so much knowledge and passion to this iconic Club. This is a world-class ownership group, and the Thorns, their fans, and the entire Portland community will no doubt benefit for years to come.”
The Bhathal family is also Principal Co-Owners of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, which was recently named NBA Team of the Year in large part due to the team’s positive impact on the local Sacramento community. The Kings parent organization also own the Sacramento RiverCats AAA baseball club, Stockton Kings NBA-G League club, and Kings Guard NBA 2K e- sports team.
In addition to their growing sports portfolio. Merage and Bhathal are co-founders and managing partners of Revitate, a Newport Beach, California-based investment firm specializing in sports, real estate, and consumer brand investments.
“The City of Portland is excited to welcome the Bhathal Family to our community in their role leading RAJ Sports as new owners of the Portland Thorns FC,” said Mayor Wheeler. “As all Portlanders appreciate, the Thorns are a beloved institution at the heart of our community – they represent our city’s values, our love of team sports, our role models, our reputation as “Soccer City USA,” and our incredible athletic and outdoor companies. Having met with…