Portland Fire's WNBA debut TONIGHT vs Sky — first pro women's hoops game in Portland in 24 years

Portland is back. The Fire — the W's other 2026 expansion franchise alongside Toronto — opens its WNBA existence TONIGHT at Moda Center, tipping at 6 PM ET against the Chicago Sky on NBA TV. It's the first professional women's basketball game in Portland in 24 years, since the original Fire folded in 2002.

The Sky come in already short-handed — Angel Reese got traded out to Atlanta in the offseason, and the rebuild is now Kamilla Cardoso's team. Portland, meanwhile, built around Sonja Citron and Brittney Sykes, has been one of the most-watched expansion projects since the Aces' relocation. Moda Center will be loud — the franchise sold its season-ticket waitlist out before the team had a coach.

With Toronto's gut-punch 68-65 loss to the Mystics in their debut last night, both new W teams are now on the league's books inside 24 hours. By Monday morning the league is officially 15 teams playing for 12 playoff spots. Tonight, the Fire just have to start it the right way — with their fans in the building and the Rose City finally back in the W after a generation off.