The Portland Fire are a new expansion team in the midst of their first-ever season in the WNBA.
Portland used to have a WNBA team - also named the Fire - from 2000 to 2002, and the ownership group decide to revive the same name. They play at the Moda Center, which is the same arena that the Portland Trail Blazers use.
In their inaugural season, Portland went 17-27, good for ninth-place in the WNBA. An overtime win against the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries to close the season could give them some momentum and confidence heading into 2027.
Front Office and Coaching Staff
Owner | RAJ Sports |
General Manager | Vanja Cernivec |
Coach | Alex Sarama |
From 2020-2022, Vanja Cernivec was the Chicago Bulls' first female international scout in team history, before accepting a job to become the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Valkyries. In August 2025, she was hired as the inaugural general manager for the Fire.
Portland Fire Season History
Season | Record | Playoff Results | Head Coach |
2026 | 17-27 | Did not qualify | Sydney Johnson |
Portland Fire 2026 Roster
Carla Leite, Bridget Carleton, and Megan DiLeo headline the expansion team as its best players. Iyana Martin Carrion was the team's first-ever draft pick, however she did not join the team for the 2026 season, instead training and playing with the Spanish national team in preparation for the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
Name | Position | Height | College | Years Pro |
Sarah Ashlee Barker | G | 6-0 | Georgia, Alabama | 1 |
Freda Buhner | C | 6-2 | Florida | R |
Bridget Carleton | F | 6-2 | Iowa State | 7 |
Emily Engstler | F | 6-1 | Syracuse, Louisville | 4 |
Luisa Geiselsoder | C | 6-4 | - | 1 |
Megan Gustafson | C | 6-4 | Iowa | 7 |
Haley Jones | G-F | 6-1 | Stanford | 3 |
Carla Leite | G | 5-9 | - | 1 |
Nyadiew Puoch | F | 6-3 | - | R |
Karlie Samuelson | G | 6-0 | Stanford | 7 |
Kamiah Smalls | G | 5-10 | James Madison | 3 |
Sug Sutton | G | 5-8 | Texas | 4 |
Serah Williams | F | 6-4 | UConn | R |
Holly Winterburn | G | 5-11 | Oregon | R |
Portland Fire All-Time Leaders
Points (Total) | Carla Leite | 626 |
Points Per Game | Carla Leite | 16.1 |
3-Pointers | Bridget Carleton | 111 |
Rebounds | Emily Engstler | 252 |
Assists | Carla Leite | 245 |
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