The Portland Fire made a historic return to the Rose City on Saturday, shattering records at the Moda Center. A sellout crowd of 19,335 fans packed the Lloyd District arena for the Fire’s 2026 regular-season opener against the Chicago Sky, officially setting the all-time WNBA attendance record for a WNBA expansion team debut.
The massive turnout eclipsed the previous expansion milestone of 18,064 set by the Golden State Valkyries in 2025, proving that the appetite for women's basketball in the Pacific Northwest is at an all-time high. Despite a final score of 98-83 in favor of the Sky, the community rallied to support the league's newest franchise, reinforcing Portland's reputation as a premier market for professional women's sports.
Carla Leite Scores First Basket in Portland Fire History During Record-Setting Opener
On the court, the Fire, which boasts the second-youngest roster in the WNBA, showed early flashes of their potential. French point guard Carla Leite, the Fire's second selection in the WNBA expansion draft, scored the first basket in franchise history with a layup just over a minute into the game. While Portland trailed 50-37 at the half, they opened the third quarter with a persistent 12-2 run. The surge was capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Bridget Carleton, the Fire’s first overall pick in the expansion draft.
WNBA Expansion Strategy: Why Portland’s Attendance is the New Standard
The WNBA expansion team's historic attendance milestone is also a women's sports homecoming for the city, which previously hosted a team under the same name from 2000 to 2002. Today’s Fire, owned by the Bhathal family, are part of a deep-rooted culture of support that already sees the Portland Thorns leading the NWSL in attendance. By filling nearly 20,000 seats in their first game back, the Fire have set a tall benchmark for future franchises.
