Three Takeaways from the Portland Fire's Season Opener
Despite losing to the Chicago Sky 98-83, Portland showed rapid improvement from their winless preseason.
Last night, Chicago wrecked Portland’s long-awaited return to the WNBA. Despite the final margin - fifteen points in favor of the visitors - Portland played much closer than the final score might suggest, sparking optimism going forward this season.
This piece spotlights three takeaways from the WNBA expansion Portland Fire’s first regular season game.
Carla Leite and Luisa Geiselsöder Show Elite Potential
Heading into last night’s opener, many expected second year point guard Carla Leite to lead the Fire’s attack.
For one night, Leite lived up to those expectations. Her 18 points led all Portland scorers, and she also flexed a penchant for penetration: the French international repeatedly drove into the lane and drew fouls, setting up a transcendent 11/12 free throw shooting clip. As this season progresses, opposing defenses will face a difficult dilemma: if they cover the arc, Leite will generate high-percentage looks, but if defenders retreat inside then Portland’s point guard will find wide-open three point shooters.
One of those shooters is fellow second year player Luisa Geiselsöder. Limited by an injury suffered late in the first quarter, the German center still managed to provide 8 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, and 2 blocks across 25 minutes. While she shot just 1/6 beyond the arc - a stark decline from her preseason shooting form - Geiselsöder paired well with Leite on several pick & rolls, passed cleanly to open teammates across the perimeter, and provided a physical presence on the glass. In a system that demands everything of a center except traditional post play, Geiselsöder proved she was up for the challenge.
Portland’s Rotations Could Change Drastically
Alex Sarama, the league’s youngest coach, represents a break from conventional norms in the WNBA. That fact appeared crystal clear after the Fire revealed their starting lineup: just one ball handler, Carla Leite, flanked by four skilled shooters. When Portland platooned it’s reserves into the game, Sarama kept the same approach, as point guard Jordan Harrison set up catch-and-shoot looks for Sarah Ashlee Barker, Serah Williams, and Megan Gustafson.
Offensively, Portland was overly reliant on Leite and Harrison to distribute the basketball. Defensively, the Fire leveraged their length in an effort to disrupt Chicago’s passing lanes. On both ends of the floor, results were mixed. In the third quarter, Sarama’s side shaved a thirteen point halftime deficit down to one. To close out that period, the Fire scored nine unanswered. At the start of the fourth quarter, the shots stopped falling, and the Fire’s younger, leaner defenders couldn’t protect the rim.
On Saturday, Sarama’s rotations were boom or bust. Expect more tinkering going forward as Portland figures out it’s best lineups.
The Rose City Provides Homecourt Advantage
When I began attending Thorns matches in the spring of 2023, I learned something special about the Rose City: this town loves women’s sports. The numbers bear it out. Across the twelve year history of the National Women’s Soccer League (2013-present), Portland has topped the league’s season average attendance nine times.
Portland’s passion for women’s sports is inarguable. Now, that passion blends with decades of Blazers-inspired basketball fandom, creating one of the toughest homecourt advantages in the W. During the second half of last night’s game, the public address announced a whopping attendance figure: 19,335. That number set the WNBA record for the most fans ever at an expansion team’s home opener.
Expect Portland crowds to break more records as this season progresses, giving Moda Center one of the toughest crowds in the league.
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Matt Bagley is a professional sports journalist with a passion for women’s sports. Outside of work, he cherishes quality time with his birth family, his chosen family, and one very pesky house panther.
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