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Portland Fire Lose 85-75 Opening, Carleton Drafted

5/9/2026

30 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Portland Fire Opens

The Portland Fire opened their 2026 season on May 9 at the Moda Center, coached by Alex Sarama Guildford of England.
They fell 85-75 to the Los Angeles Sparks in a preseason game before a crowd of 13,550.
Sponsors such as Alaska Airlines, Toyota and Nike’s “Rose City Built” uniform with blue accents back the team.
Former Fire star Bridget Carleton was selected in the expansion draft for the revived squad.

Summary

Fire Roster Moves

The Fire opened with a 13-player roster: 12 standard contracts and one developmental slot.
Cernivec traded Chloe Bibby to Phoenix for Julia Ayrault and sent Maya Caldwell to Minnesota for a 2028 pick.
Contracts of injured Teja Oblak, Kamiah Smalls and ACL-injured Nika Mühl were suspended.
The Fire added Jordan Harrison and Serah Williams to the standard roster and placed Frieda Bühner in the developmental slot limited to 12 games.

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Portland Fire Opens

The Portland Fire opened their 2026 season on May 9 at the Moda Center, coached by Alex Sarama Guildford of England.
They fell 85-75 to the Los Angeles Sparks in a preseason game before a crowd of 13,550.
Sponsors such as Alaska Airlines, Toyota and Nike’s “Rose City Built” uniform with blue accents back the team.
Former Fire star Bridget Carleton was selected in the expansion draft for the revived squad.

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