The Portland Fire history covers the journey of one of the WNBA’s earliest expansion teams. Founded in 2000, Portland Fire WNBA played three seasons before folding in 2002. Despite its brief run, the team featured talented players and helped grow women’s basketball in the Pacific Northwest, leaving a lasting impact on the league.
Established
2000
City
Portland
League History
2000 – 2002, 2026 - Present / Women’s National Basketball Association
Team History
2002 – 2002, 2026 - Present / Portland Fire
Nickname
Fire – The Portland Fire is a professional Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Oregon. The franchise was founded in 2000 and has since become one of the most successful teams in the league, reaching multiple WNBA Finals appearances. But what many fans may not know is that the team’s nickname has an exciting story behind it.
Portland Fire Origin
When Portland first announced its expansion into the WNBA, it held a contest to decide on its official name and logo design. After much deliberation, they chose “Fire” as their nickname due to its strong ties with Oregon’s history and culture. Fire played an essential role for Native Americans who lived throughout this region long before settlers arrived centuries ago. The fire was used for warmth during cold winters, cooking food, and providing light at night when no other illumination sources were available.
Additionally, members from local tribes would often use smoke signals or bonfires to communicate with each other over long distances - something that also inspired part of Portland Fire's logo design today. As you can see from these examples alone – even though it might seem like just another sports mascot at first glance – there are some profound meanings associated with why this particular name was chosen by those who created it all those years ago...
Championship
WNBA Championships 0
Arena
2026 - Present / Moda Center
2000 – 2002 / Rose Garden Arena
Owner
2026 - Present / Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal (via RAJ Sports)
2000 – 2002 / Paul Allen
- 2000
- 2002
- 2025
Fire Team Creation
By 2000, the league had expanded to 16 teams, with the Detroit Shock and Washington Mystics joining the league in 1998, the Minnesota Lynx and Orlando Miracle in 1999, and the Indiana Fever, Miami Sol, Portland Fire, and Seattle Storm in 2000.-
Fire Close Down
The 2002 season proved to be the Portland Fire’s swan song season, but most improved. After this season, the WNBA sold ownership of their franchises to owners of their counterpart NBA teams or to third parties. Fire chairman Paul Allen’s continued financial problems with what was seen league-wide as an underachieving TrailBlazers team put him out of the running to buy the Fire ... -
Fire Revives Legacy with Bold Expansion
Portland’s return to the WNBA is official, as the league’s 15th franchise proudly revives the name Portland Fire, honoring the original team that competed from 2000 to 2002. The team, owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal through RAJ Sports, also owners of the Portland Thorns, will tip off in 2026 alongside fellow expansion team Toronto Tempo. The Bhathals ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Portland Fire History
The Portland Fire history began when the franchise was established in 2000 as one of the WNBA’s expansion teams. Portland Fire WNBA played its home games under ownership tied to the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. The team joined the league in its fourth season, bringing professional women’s basketball back to the Pacific Northwest.
During their short run, Portland Fire basketball featured several notable players who left a mark on the franchise. Jackie Stiles was drafted fourth overall by the Fire in 2001 and won WNBA Rookie of the Year after leading all rookies in scoring. Veterans such as Tully Bevilaqua, Sylvia Crawley, Kristin Folkl, Tamicha Jackson and DeMya Walker provided playmaking, defense, and leadership. These players helped shape early Portland Fire history even though the team’s time in the league was brief.
On the court, the Portland Fire history was brief. The team never made the playoffs in its three seasons (2000-2002). Their combined record was under .400, which meant constant struggle to compete in a league that was growing rapidly. Financial and attendance issues added pressure. Despite individual flashes of brilliance, the franchise folded after the 2002 season.
Though short-lived, Portland Fire basketball left a legacy. The team gave local fans exposure to the WNBA, brought televised games, and opened doors for female athletes in the region. The original Fire remain remembered as a part of Portland’s sports heritage, root of what could be in the future.
Fire Achievements
While the Portland Fire history does not include playoff appearances or championships, there were still meaningful high points. The very first win, a victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in their debut season, and competitive games against established franchises showed the Fire could compete. Jackie Stiles’ rookie season stood out for her scoring among all rookies in Portland Fire WNBA, marking an important individual achievement in a young franchise.
Another achievement in Portland Fire history is how the franchise inspired future expansions and helped expand the WNBA’s footprint. Though the Fire folded in 2002, their presence boosted interest in women’s basketball in Oregon. Their legacy influenced the decision to revive Portland Fire as a new franchise starting in 2026, connecting past and future and showing how Portland Fire basketball continues to matter to fans and the league.
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history