"A sold out Moda Center crowd welcomed back women's basketball to Portland on Saturday, May 9 for the first time since 2002, when the original Portland Fire closed up shop after just three years. This spark in the "Fire Pit" was undeniable. The fans were treated to a sunny Saturday afternoon, a pristine new court with kindling-inspired hardwood, free 100 percent cotton ( no polyester!) T-shirts, early birds received free Bridget Carleton jerseys, and, in the most "we know our demographic" move of all time, a halftime show of R&B hits by Ashanti showing us "What's Luv"."
"The Fire, who've only played two pre-season games as a full squad, played their best basketball yet for the first three quarters, before the veteran leaders on the Sky took over in the final ten minutes to pull away. It was a game of many firsts. Third-year French point guard Carla Leite scored the Fire's first points in team history, finishing with 18 points to lead the team."
"During a pause in play early in the third quarter, after the Fire's first coach's challenge, the stadium emcee orchestrated the first Wave of Fire amongst the 19,335 faithful embers in the stands. This was followed quickly by the first chorus of "Boos" and "Ref, You Suck!" chants from fans after the Sky's seven time all-star guard Skylar Diggins nailed a three pointer and stuck her tongue out in jest."
"After trailing by double digits, a blistering defensive effort from the Fire brought the game to within one point-68-67-to end the third, bringing out the crowd's first standing ovation as the house DJ played "I Love It" by Icona Pop and Charli XCX. The brightest sequence for the Fire came after forcing two huge 8-second backcourt violation turnover"
Portland’s inaugural WNBA game ended in an 98-83 loss to the Chicago Sky, but the new franchise drew a sold-out Moda Center crowd and reignited women’s basketball in Portland after a return since 2002. Fans received free cotton T-shirts, early-bird giveaways including Bridget Carleton jerseys, and a halftime performance featuring Ashanti. The Fire played their best basketball through the first three quarters despite having only two preseason games as a full squad. Carla Leite scored the team’s first points in franchise history with 18 points. The game featured firsts including a Wave of Fire, early “Boos” and “Ref, You Suck!” chants, and a first standing ovation after a late third-quarter defensive push brought the score to 68-67.
Read at Portland Mercury
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