The return of the Portland Fire to the WNBA in 2026 is generating a ton of excitement! But before we look ahead, let's rewind and remember the team's original run from 2000 to 2002. It was short-lived, yes, but packed with interesting moments. Get ready to dive into 10 fascinating facts about the first iteration of the Portland Fire – some might surprise you!
1. A Brief But Bright Flame: The Portland Fire blazed onto the WNBA scene for just three seasons: 2000, 2001, and 2002. This ties them with the Miami Sol as one of the shortest-lived franchises in WNBA history (excluding the Golden State Valkyries, who just started in 2025). Think of it like a shooting star – beautiful, but gone too soon.
2. Playoff Dreams Unfulfilled: Over those three seasons, the Fire accumulated a record of 37 wins and 59 losses. Unfortunately, they never quite made it to the playoffs. The closest they came was in 2002, finishing with a 16-16 record, just one game behind the Seattle Storm for the final Western Conference playoff spot. So close, yet so far!
3. Mystics Nightmare: Despite their overall record, the Fire had one team they consistently dominated: the Washington Mystics. Portland won a whopping 80% of their games against the Mystics, securing four victories out of five contests. One standout performance was a 75-58 win on July 9, 2000, where Sophia Witherspoon exploded for 26 points. Some teams just have another's number, right?
4. The Reign of Crawley: Sylvia Crawley holds the title of the Portland Fire's all-time leading scorer, racking up 935 career points. After the Fire folded, Crawley continued her basketball journey with the San Antonio Silver Stars for a year before transitioning into coaching. And this is the part most people miss: Crawley was also an assistant coach for her alma mater, the University of North Carolina, during her time with the Fire! Talk about a busy schedule!
5. The Core Five: Only 20 players ever wore a Portland Fire jersey. Of those 20, five were there from start to finish, playing in all three seasons: Alisa Burras (the Fire's first-ever expansion draft pick), Sylvia Crawley (the scoring queen), Stacey Thomas (the steals specialist), Tully Bevilaqua (the assists leader), and DeMya Walker (who led the team in scoring in 2002). These five were the heart and soul of the early Fire teams.
6. Stiles' Sharpshooting: Jackie Stiles quickly established herself as one of the WNBA's premier three-point shooters during her time with the Fire. Playing in 2001 and 2002, Stiles connected on an impressive 40.6% of her three-point attempts, averaging 11.4 points per game. That accuracy still holds up today, as she remains ranked among the WNBA's all-time leaders in three-point percentage (currently #12!).
7. An Oregonian Connection: Among the 20 players who played for the Fire, only one had strong ties to the state of Oregon. While Jenny Mowe hailed from California originally, she spent her high school years in Oregon at Powers High School. She then starred for the Oregon Ducks in college. Mowe played for the Fire in 2001 and 2002, adding a local flavor to the team.
8. The Pacific Northwest Rivalry: The renewed rivalry between Portland and Seattle is something WNBA fans are eagerly anticipating. Portland and Seattle share a deep history of sports rivalries. The Fire and the Storm joined the WNBA in 2000, and their head-to-head matchups were always intense. In fact, the Fire held a 5-4 series lead over the Storm during their three seasons. Will the new Fire continue this dominance?
9. A Miracle Beatdown: Despite their struggles in 2000 (a 10-22 record), the Fire recorded their most dominant victory that year. On July 30, 2000, Portland crushed the Orlando Miracle 76-55. The Fire notched 14 steals in that game, and Sophia Witherspoon once again led the scoring charge with 27 points.
10. Staying Power: Even though the Portland Fire disbanded after 2002, two of their players had long and successful WNBA careers that stretched deep into the 2000s. DeMya Walker played until 2012 with multiple teams, while Tully Bevilaqua also played until 2012, becoming a WNBA legend.
But here's where it gets controversial... Even after the team dissolved, the legacy of the Portland Fire lived on through its players and even through connections to the current team! Portland Fire assistant coach Sylvia Fowles (who had a legendary WNBA career herself) played against Walker nine times and Bevilaqua 11 times during their careers. It's a small world, even in professional basketball!
So, what do you think about the Portland Fire's original run? Were they a success, despite the lack of playoff appearances? And what are your hopes for the new team in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
