Portland Fire Drawing Huge WNBA Crowds

Packed stands at the Fire Pit

Portland's reborn WNBA franchise is proving that the city's appetite for women's sport shows no sign of waning. The Portland Fire are pulling in roughly 14,500 fans per game - a figure that places them among the league's best-attended teams in their debut campaign.

A city with pedigree

The passionate turnout is hardly a surprise. Portland already boasts a deep-rooted culture of supporting women's teams, from the University of Portland's celebrated soccer programme to the Portland Thorns, one of the founding clubs of the National Women's Soccer League.

Pyro, noise and the Moda Center

On match nights, the Moda Center is rebranded as the "Fire Pit" - complete with pyrotechnics during player introductions. Head coach Alex Sarama has spoken enthusiastically about the electric atmosphere the local community creates.

Work in progress on the court

Results are still catching up with the excitement in the stands. The Fire sit ninth in the league with a 13-19 record, but the franchise has leaned into its "Fire Reignited" identity and is firmly focused on laying foundations rather than chasing short-term glory.

Sarama's unconventional blueprint

Central to that long-term vision is Sarama's adoption of the Constraints-Led Approach - a coaching philosophy that prioritises creative problem-solving over repetitive drills. The method is designed to accelerate the development of young players while still keeping the team competitive.