The WNBA's Portland Fire are gearing up for their highly anticipated return in the 2026 season, but it's not just the players who are excited. Alex Sarama, the new coach, is tasked with building a brand new team from the ground up, and he's not alone in understanding the challenges of expansion. Linda Hargrove, the original Portland Fire coach and general manager, reflects on the experience, saying, 'It's tough being an expansion team.'
Hargrove's team faced a unique set of challenges. As an expansion team, they weren't part of the draft lottery, which meant they couldn't secure high draft picks in their first year. Their first pick in 2000 was Lynn Pride, and it wasn't until 2001 that they drafted Jackie Stiles, who would go on to become a standout player for the team. Hargrove's strategy for building the team was to focus on free agency, where they signed top players like Sylvia Crawley, Michelle Marciniak, and Tully Bevilaqua.
The original Portland Fire team showed promise, going 16-16 in their final season, but unfortunately, the franchise was disbanded in 2002. Hargrove's involvement in the community and the Portland fanbase's support were notable aspects of the team's tenure. She's now retired from basketball, but her experiences with the Fire have left a lasting impression, and she's eager to see the new team's progress this year.
As the new Portland Fire prepare for their return, they'll no doubt draw inspiration from Hargrove's insights and the lessons learned from the original team's journey. Will they face similar challenges? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: the WNBA is about to get a whole lot more exciting!
