The Portland Fire return after 24 years as WNBA expansion team opens the season
After 24 years, the Fire have returned to Portland. The expansion Portland Fire took the court at the city's Moda Center, dubbed the “Fire Pit” for the occasion, for the team's WNBA season opener against the Chicago Sky on Saturday night. The Portland players warmed up wearing T-shirts that said “Legacy Reignited” on the front and “2002 PDX 2026” on the back — paying homage to the original Fire, who played three seasons from 2000-02.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — After 24 years, the Fire have returned to Portland. The expansion Portland Fire took the court at the city's Moda Center, dubbed the “Fire Pit” for the occasion, for the team's WNBA season opener against the Chicago Sky on Saturday night.
The Portland players warmed up wearing T-shirts that said “Legacy Reignited” on the front and “2002 PDX 2026” on the back — paying homage to the original Fire, who played three seasons from 2000-02. The game was a sellout with an announced attendance of 19,335. Among those in the crowd were Oregon Gov.
Tina Kotek, Sen. Ron Wyden. “Portlandia” star Carrie Brownstein, and Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday and his wife Lauren Holiday, a former player for the U.
S. women's national soccer team. “This is such a good fit for us, and it's practically in our DNA,” Wyden said.