The Portland Fire made a resounding statement in their return to the WNBA, dismantling the Indiana Fever 100-84 in front of a passionate home crowd at the Moda Center. The victory was a showcase of offensive firepower and defensive tenacity, marking a new chapter for the franchise that relaunched earlier this year. From the opening tip, the Fire controlled the tempo and never let the Fever find their rhythm, building a lead that stretched to 22 points in the second half.

First Quarter: Fire Set the Pace

Portland came out blazing, shooting 58% from the field in the first quarter. Guard Maya Chen was unstoppable, scoring 11 of her game-high 28 points in the opening period. The Fire’s ball movement was crisp, and they exploited mismatches against Indiana’s perimeter defense. Indiana struggled to keep up, managing just 19 points in the first 10 minutes while turning the ball over six times.

Second-Half Surge Seals the Win

The Fever attempted a comeback in the third quarter, led by forward Kelsey Mitchell (22 points), who knocked down three straight jumpers to cut the deficit to nine. But Portland responded with a 14-2 run, fueled by center Lena Harper (16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks), who dominated the paint at both ends. The Fire’s bench also contributed 35 points, with rookie Samira Jones providing a spark off the bench with 12 points and 7 assists.

Defensively, Portland held Indiana to 39% shooting overall and forced 18 turnovers. The victory improves the Fire’s record to 3-1, while the Fever fall to 1-3. For Portland, this win signals that they are ready to compete with the league’s elite after a long hiatus.