The WNBA just got bigger with two new teams hitting the court this season, and one of them, the Portland Fire, is definitely making some noise. Our Seattle Storm fans might not be thrilled about it though, because this “new” team, which is actually an original squad back from 2000-2002, just handed the Storm four brutal losses in their regular season matchups. Yeah, you read that right, four! It feels like a punch to the gut for us Emerald City faithful, knowing our rivals down south are getting the best of us right out of the gate.
Welcome Back, Portland! (But Seriously, What Gives?)
With the league now boasting 15 teams, there’s no doubt things are heating up, and Portland’s “rich and passionate” culture is absolutely ready for it. The Fire are playing all their home games in the Moda Center, and you can already snag tickets on StubHub if you’re brave enough to head south and see them in person. Their season opener against the Sky had passes for as low as $55, and a few days later, a game against the Liberty was going for a cool $30. The regular season got rolling in May, with the Fire hosting Chicago for their first game, and they’ll wrap things up in September against the Valkyries. Sounds all good and dandy for them, honestly.
Our Storm Took A Beating From Our Neighbors Down South
Now, let’s talk about what really matters to us here in Seattle, because this is where it stings. The Fire’s schedule saw them cross paths with our Seattle Storm a few times, and honestly, the results are just plain tough to swallow.
On Wednesday, June 17, the Fire edged out the Storm 94-89. Okay, a close one, maybe an off night, we tell ourselves, right?
Then on Saturday, July 4, they did it again, beating us 77-72. Still close, but dang, a loss is a loss, and two in a row starts to build a pattern.
Fast forward to Saturday, August 8, and the Fire dropped 100 points on the Storm, winning 100-93. That score right there? That’s getting a little harder to just brush off.
Finally, on Friday, August 14, the Fire closed out their season series with yet another victory over the Storm, 84-82.
Four games, four losses for our Storm. It’s a brutal clean sweep in this new rivalry, and it leaves you seriously wondering what the heck is going on in those matchups. Our team just couldn’t put out this Fire, not even once.
The Fire have definitely announced their return to the WNBA with a bang, especially when it comes to us here in Seattle. With their regular season winding down against the Valkyries in September, they’ve already shown they’re not here to mess around. Our Storm, and all of us 12s, better figure out how to put out this Portland Fire before next season, because right now, those guys have all the bragging rights. We cannot let this become a trend.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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