Portland Fire's WNBA debut TONIGHT — first pro women's game in the Rose City in 24 years

The Rose City has the W back. Portland Fire vs Chicago Sky tonight at 6 PM ET at Moda Center, on NBA TV — the first WNBA regular-season game in Portland since the original Fire folded in 2002. Twenty-four years away. Free T-shirts for every fan in the building, courtesy of Lashify. The Fire kick off their inaugural 2026 season as one of two new expansion teams the W added to bring the league to 15 franchises.

Last night Toronto Tempo lost their debut by three to the Mystics. Tonight Portland gets its turn. Two expansion debuts in 24 hours — the largest single growth moment for the league since Atlanta entered in 2008. Both new franchises sold out their preseason home openers. Portland's been waiting longer than just about any city in pro hoops to be back on the W map.

The Sky come in retooled around Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso (their two-headed frontcourt monster). Portland's still finding its identity — but it has a city behind it, a 24-year-old ghost to lay to rest, and a building that's going to be loud. Tonight the W is back in Oregon.