Making a comeback after about 24 years, the Portland Fire is ready to play and dominate the basketball court. From 2000 to 2002, Portland had a qualified Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team called the Portland Fire. Despite strong public support, the team fell through after the 2002 season when Paul Allen, owner of the city’s NBA team the Portland Trail Blazers, did not want to risk financial losses by purchasing the Fire. Now in 2026, with community partners ready to support the team, the Fire is prepared to win some basketball games and get involved around the Portland area.
Many Portlanders, especially young female athletes, are excited to see how the Fire will impact the community. Kimberly Veale, senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Fire, says that the Fire’s goal has been to encourage young women’s participation in athletics. “Seeing women compete at the highest levels of professional sports gives the youth of our community real proof that these ambitions are real and achievable,” Veale explains. Having local representation of female athletes can be highly influential to young athletes in Portland. “This responsibility is an important part of our organization’s mission and priority from day one,” Veale emphasizes.
Erin Brunton, the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) youth sports coordinator for the Franklin cluster and Franklin women’s varsity basketball coach, is very excited for the Fire to represent female athletes. “Youth female athletes can see firsthand role models at the highest level,” she says. “This opportunity can be a foundation to strengthen a sense of self-belief, confidence, leadership, and commitment even at the youth level.” A 2023 article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health affirms this, stating that gender representation in media is very influential for viewers. Seeing women being represented in a nationally recognized professional team highlights women achieving athletic roles. Furthermore, it allows young women who dream of becoming professional basketball players to see it as a real possibility.
In sports media specifically, there is not nearly as much representation of female athletes. According to ESPN on its network, the NBA had over one million viewers more than the WNBA. Even though the WNBA had an increase in viewers, the WNBA’s viewer statistics are not as high as the NBA’s. Now, with the arrival of the Fire, the people of Portland will have easier access to watching a WNBA team play both on TV and in–person.
Alicia Scoggin, Benson High School women’s junior varsity head basketball coach and community event organizer with the Fire, echoes Brunton’s words. She emphasizes her belief that having this team will bring Portlanders to bond over their appreciation of professional female athletes. “It will bring thousands of people together and build relationships,” she says.
One important relationship the Fire is cultivating with is the Portland Thorns, an existing professional women’s soccer team in Portland. Veale describes that the two teams have teamed up under RAJ Sports — the owners of the Thorns and the Fire — to build a dual-sport women’s performance center for both teams. This center will provide access to training and wellness for all of the players. Veale adds, “Together with the Portland Thorns under RAJ Sports, we will continue to mark Portland’s rightful place as the epicenter of women’s sports year-round.”
The Thorns embody characteristics that Brunton believes the Fire want to achieve. She mentions that the Thorns have created an environment that is “energetic, inclusive, and such a fun experience.” The Fire can create this same environment for women in basketball. Along with this strong partnership, health care company Kaiser Permanente has been a large supporter of the Fire in funds and medical services. Dr. Jacqueline M. Brady, an orthopedic sports surgeon at Kaiser, has partnered with the Fire as one of the lead team physicians. These partnerships are what make the team’s current creation and future success possible. “We hold regular clinics in the training room to see injured or ill athletes on a roughly weekly basis when in season,” Brady says. “We provide sideline coverage for home games and post-season play, in case any injuries occur during competition.”
Providing healthcare that is specific to women’s bodies ensures their ability to perform their best during games. Brady continues, “When it comes to the elite–level athlete, we get to hone in and focus solely on their athletic performance.” As well as having these physicians, they also have mental health and nutrition consultants to rely on for extra support. Brady notes that an important aspect of being a professional athlete is advocating for any health concerns. She hopes that young female athletes can be able to advocate for themselves more in their sports as well. “I hope that young women can watch this process evolve and feel empowered to be proactive and communicative to keep themselves healthy,” she comments.
Brunton hopes to see the Fire active within the Portland community, especially within PIL and Portland Public Schools. “It would be just another chance to uplift our young female athletes and bring more passion to our sport in the heart of our city,” she comments. Young female athletes will have various opportunities to see the Fire in action and on the court. Veale vocalizes that, “We want our players to thrive, not just survive, on and off the court, and within the community.” Starting their season on May 9, 2026, Portlanders can fill the seats in the Moda Center to support the team’s comeback. And as Brunton summarizes, “Let’s go Fire!”
