As the Portland Fire prepare to rejoin the WNBA in 2026, those connected to the team emphasize one undeniable strength: the extraordinary devotion of Portland Fire WNBA fans. This enduring support from the local community forms the backbone of the team’s culture and offers a promising foundation for its upcoming chapter.
Former Portland Power player Katy Steding, also a Lake Oswego High School alumna and current Stanford assistant coach, passionately recalled the fanbase during her playing days.
“We had the best fans, I promise you,”
said Steding.
“We had the best fans in the whole country. Very loyal, super supportive, engaged in the game. They were knowledgeable, but they were always on our side.”
Her sentiments resonate deeply both locally and nationally, with players from different regions praising Portland’s unique basketball enthusiasm. Jenny Mowe, originally from Joseph and a former Fire player, was frequently highlighted as a fan favorite, demonstrating the close connections within the Portland basketball community.
From Across the Nation: Coaches Applaud Portland’s Passion
Lin Dunn, who transitioned from coaching in the southern U.S. to leading the Portland Power in the American Basketball League before eventually coaching the Seattle Storm in the WNBA, noted the warmth and zeal of the city’s basketball fans despite the team’s early struggles. She is now a consultant for the Indiana Fever and holds a strong affection for Portland.
“First and foremost, I love the city of Portland,”
Dunn shared.
“I immediately loved the passion of the fans. And I think the fact that the Portland Fire are coming back to Portland will be a huge asset to the WNBA because of the fans.”
Linda Hargrove, who coached the Fire during their entire initial WNBA run and was aligned against Dunn coaching Seattle, likewise acknowledged the exceptional support from Portland’s fanbase.
“I just feel, and I don’t know why but, there was such a love for the team there,”
Hargrove said.
“It was the city. It was the people in that city. There was just something about them supporting women’s basketball. And I know they do soccer and they do other women’s sports in Portland now as well, but they really did. They really did just have a real close connection with the players and the team.”
A Rich History of Portland Women’s Basketball Enthusiasm
Long before the Fire’s imminent return, Portland’s passion for women’s basketball was evident. When the American Basketball League (ABL) disbanded in December 1998, the Portland Power ranked second in league attendance. This ongoing enthusiasm began from the team’s very first game.
Linda Weston, the general manager of the Power during that era, recalled that in 1996 the team attracted an impressive crowd of 9,000 fans for opening night at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum despite minimal marketing efforts.
Sylvia Crawley, uniquely experienced in playing for both the Portland Power and the Fire during their early WNBA years, emphasized the fanbase’s motivating impact on the players.
Crawley described how Fire fans would often remain standing in the Rose Garden—now known as the Moda Center—until the team scored its opening points, creating a vibrant atmosphere that pushed the players to perform from the outset.
“But the fans were there through thick and thin, rain or shine,”
Crawley told The Oregonian/OregonLive.
“We wanted to win so bad for them because they would cheer and they stood up until we scored a basket.”
Fan Influence Extending Beyond the Court
Crawley’s relationship with the Portland fanbase went beyond mere encouragement. In 2000, after leading the Fire in scoring, she was initially excluded from the WNBA All-Star ballot. Portland fans, however, mobilized quickly, petitioning the league to add her name.
The WNBA then encouraged fans to write Crawley in as a candidate, and despite the votes overwhelmingly coming from Portland, Crawley received an invitation as an alternate to the All-Star Game in Phoenix.
“My name wasn’t listed for, like, people who weren’t our fans,”
Crawley explained.
“You know, when they’re looking at the list, they don’t see my name, so they don’t vote for me. Only our fans knew to do that. Like, what fans do that? You know, they’re just like, ‘Hey. We want Crawley’s name on the list.’”
Memorable Moments with the Fire’s Fanbase
Jackie Stiles, a standout star during the Fire’s original 2000-2002 stint and a Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer, remembered Portland as the best environment in the league.
“This community, they supported us so much,”
Stiles remarked.
I mean, I know I’m biased, but it was the best place in the WNBA to play, and we had an incredible crowd, and this community deserves to have another team.”
Portland’s fervent basketball fans, entrenched in a culture of loyalty and connection, have set a high standard for women’s professional basketball support. Their passion promises to be a vital asset as the Fire reemerge in the WNBA landscape, energizing the league and rekindling historic rivalries like that with Seattle.
