Kamilla Cardoso delivered a dominant performance with 22 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Chicago Sky to a 98-83 victory that spoiled the expansion Portland Fire's long-awaited WNBA home opener on Saturday night at the Moda Center.
The atmosphere was electric as Portland fans welcomed the league back to the city for the first time in 24 years. Carla Leite, who scored 18 points for the Fire, made the first basket of the game—a layup just over a minute in—to thunderous applause, setting the tone for a spirited contest.
Portland faced an uphill battle early, trailing by 17 points in the first half. But the Fire showed resilience, storming back to tie the game at 70 on Bridget Carleton's clutch 3-pointer with 8:39 remaining. Carleton, a key addition in the WNBA expansion draft, helped ignite a 12-2 run to open the second half.
However, Chicago regained control down the stretch. Skylar Diggins contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring a Sky team that underwent a major overhaul after a disappointing 10-24 season. With just four holdovers from last year's roster, the Sky turned to veteran signings like Natasha Cloud—though she was sidelined for the opener due to illness. Notably, Angel Reese was traded to Atlanta in exchange for future first-round draft picks.
The Fire, the second-youngest team in the WNBA, kept it close in the first quarter, trailing just 19-18. But Chicago pulled away by halftime, leading 50-37. Portland's third-quarter rally gave fans hope, but the Sky's experience and depth proved too much.
This game marked a historic moment for Portland, which previously had a WNBA team—also named the Fire—that played from 2000 to 2002. The loss doesn't diminish the excitement surrounding the franchise's return to the league.
Looking ahead, the Sky embark on a four-game road trip, playing at Golden State on Wednesday. The Fire continue their season-opening homestand, hosting New York on Tuesday night. For fans of both teams, this opener was just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting season.