The Portland Fire are bringing WNBA basketball back to one of the sport’s most passionate cities. Portland’s inaugural season tips off Saturday, May 9 against the Chicago Sky, marking the beginning of a new era for basketball in the Pacific Northwest.
Now, the Fire begin the challenge every expansion franchise faces: Establishing an identity in one of the deepest and most competitive eras in WNBA history.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Portland Fire this season, including the full schedule, TV channel information and where to watch games all year long.
Watch the WNBA all season long on DIRECTV.
Portland Fire Quick Facts:
Founding Season: 2026
Conference: Western
Head Coach: Alex Sarama
Home Arena: Moda Center
Championships: None
2025 Finish: Expansion team in 2026
Where Can I Watch Portland Fire Games?
For fans who can’t make it out to Moda Center to watch the Fire in person, there are plenty of ways to follow the Portland Fire TV schedule throughout the inaugural WNBA season, including nationally televised games and local broadcasts.
Below are the channels and streaming platforms where you can watch Portland Fire games live today and all season long:
- Local Broadcast – Rose City SportsNet (RCSN)
- ESPN – Ch. 206
- ESPN2 – Ch. 209
- ABC – Find your local ABC network
- CBS – Find your local CBS network
- NBC – Find your local NBC network
- USA Network – Ch. 242
- ION – Ch. 305
- Peacock
- Prime Video
- WNBA League Pass
- ESPN Unlimited
Portland Fire 2026 TV Schedule
The Portland Fire open up their inaugural season at home at the Moda Center against the Chicago Sky on May 9 at 9 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBA TV.
Don’t miss the debut season of the Portland Fire and the rest of the 2026 WNBA season. Here is the Fire’s full national and local broadcast schedule.
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
| Sat, 5/9 | vs Chicago Sky | 9:00 p.m. | NBA TV, Local Broadcast |
| Tue, 5/12 | vs New York Liberty | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Thu, 5/14 | vs New York Liberty | 10:00 p.m. | Prime Video |
| Mon, 5/18 | vs Connecticut Sun | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Wed, 5/20 | @ Indiana Fever | 7:00 p.m. | USA Network, Local Broadcast |
| Sat, 5/23 | @ Toronto Tempo | 6:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Mon, 5/25 | @ New York Liberty | 8:00 p.m. | NBCSN, Peacock, Local Broadcast |
| Wed, 5/27 | vs Connecticut Sun | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Fri, 5/29 | vs Atlanta Dream | 10:00 p.m. | ION |
| Sat, 5/30 | vs Indiana Fever | 8:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Tue, 6/2 | @ Golden State Valkyries | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Fri, 6/5 | vs Phoenix Mercury | 10:00 p.m. | ION |
| Sun, 6/7 | @ Los Angeles Sparks | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV, Local Broadcast |
| Thu, 6/11 | vs Las Vegas Aces | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Sat, 6/13 | vs Dallas Wings | 8:30 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Mon, 6/15 | @ Minnesota Lynx | 8:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Wed, 6/17 | vs Seattle Storm | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Wed, 6/24 | @ Chicago Sky | 8:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Fri, 6/26 | @ Chicago Sky | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
| Sun, 6/28 | @ Washington Mystics | 3:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Sat, 7/4 | @ Seattle Storm | 9:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Thu, 7/9 | vs Las Vegas Aces | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Sat, 7/11 | @ Atlanta Dream | 4:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Tue, 7/14 | @ Connecticut Sun | 11:00 a.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Thu, 7/16 | @ Washington Mystics | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV, Local Broadcast |
| Sat, 7/18 | @ Minnesota Lynx | 8:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Wed, 7/22 | vs Dallas Wings | 10:00 p.m. | USA Network, Local Broadcast |
| Tue, 7/28 | @ Las Vegas Aces | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Fri, 7/31 | vs Indiana Fever | 10:00 p.m. | ION |
| Sun, 8/2 | vs Los Angeles Sparks | 3:30 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Thu, 8/6 | vs Toronto Tempo | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Sat, 8/8 | vs Seattle Storm | 8:30 p.m. | NBA TV, Local Broadcast |
| Wed, 8/12 | vs Minnesota Lynx | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Fri, 8/14 | @ Seattle Storm | 10:00 p.m. | ION |
| Sun, 8/16 | @ Phoenix Mercury | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri, 8/21 | @ Toronto Tempo | 10:00 p.m. | ION |
| Sun, 8/23 | vs Washington Mystics | 7:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Tue, 8/25 | @ Dallas Wings | 8:00 p.m. | NBA TV, Local Broadcast |
| Fri, 8/28 | @ Atlanta Dream | 7:30 p.m. | ION |
| Sun, 8/30 | vs Golden State Valkyries | 7:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Thu, 9/17 | vs Phoenix Mercury | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Fri, 9/18 | @ Golden State Valkyries | 10:00 p.m. | ION |
| Sun, 9/20 | @ Los Angeles Sparks | 7:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
| Tue, 9/22 | vs Golden State Valkyries | 10:00 p.m. | Local Broadcast |
No Fire games today? Find another matchup to watch on the full WNBA schedule here.
Portland Fire Expansion Overview
The Portland Fire return to the WNBA in 2026 as part of the league’s continued expansion and growing popularity across North America. Portland previously hosted a WNBA franchise from 2000 to 2002 before the original Fire folded after three seasons.
The franchise is owned by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal of RAJ Sports, who also own the Portland Thorns of the NWSL. Portland hired former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Alex Sarama as the team’s first head coach, with Brittany Donaldson and WNBA legend Sylvia Fowles joining the coaching staff.
With one of the league’s strongest basketball fan bases and a growing roster of international and veteran talent, Portland enters the WNBA looking to establish itself quickly in the Western Conference.
Key Portland Fire Players to Watch in 2026
The Portland Fire enter their inaugural WNBA season with a roster built through the expansion draft and centered around a mix of experienced veterans and young international talent. Portland added players like Bridget Carleton, Emily Engstler, Carla Leite and Luisa Geiselsöder while also selecting Spanish guard Iyana Martin with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Bridget Carleton
Carleton arrives in Portland after helping the Minnesota Lynx reach the playoffs in 2025. Entering her seventh WNBA season, she is expected to take on a much larger offensive role after averaging 6.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and shooting 37% from three-point range last season.
Iyana Martin
Martin was selected seventh overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft and is widely viewed as one of the franchise’s long-term cornerstones. The Spanish guard starred for Perfumerías Avenida and averaged 14.5 points and 4.3 assists per game last season while building one of the strongest résumés among international prospects entering the WNBA.
Carla Leite
After showing flashes with the Golden State Valkyries during her rookie season, Leite enters 2026 with an opportunity for a much larger role in Portland’s backcourt. She averaged 7.2 points and two assists per game in limited minutes last season and gives the Fire another young playmaker to develop around.
Luisa Geiselsöder
Geiselsöder made her WNBA debut in 2025 after several successful seasons overseas and immediately showed intriguing versatility as a frontcourt playmaker. She averaged 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 28 appearances and could become a foundational piece as Portland establishes its offensive identity.
Emily Engstler
Engstler provides defensive versatility and frontcourt depth after spending time with multiple WNBA teams early in her career. The former Louisville standout averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season while continuing to showcase her ability to contribute across multiple categories.
As the Fire begin building their franchise identity, Portland’s combination of international talent, young prospects and experienced veterans gives the expansion team an intriguing long-term foundation.
Portland Fire Rivalries to Watch
They may not have played a game yet, but there is already enough of a regional rivalry among fans for the Fire to have the Seattle Storm circled on their calendar. This year is the first chapter in what should hopefully be one of the WNBA’s most entertaining rivalries moving forward.
Stream Portland Fire Games Live on DIRECTV
WNBA games air across ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Unlimited, ION and USA Network throughout the season. With DIRECTV, fans can watch Portland Fire games live all year long, from the opening tip of the regular season through the WNBA Playoffs and Finals.
Whether you’re following the Fire’s inaugural season, rising international stars or Portland’s newest basketball team as it builds its identity in the WNBA, DIRECTV gives basketball fans access to national broadcasts, streaming options and local coverage throughout the season.
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Frequently asked questions
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