Editing Portland Fire (section)

==History==
In its short, three-year history, the Portland Fire franchise held some of the more dubious distinctions among WNBA franchises.  Founded in 2000, [[Portland Trail Blazers]] owner [[Paul Allen]] served as the team's chairman. Led by [[Vanessa Nygaard]] and [[Sylvia Crawley]], the team managed a 10–22 win–loss record in their inaugural season. In the 2001 season, the team faced another losing season but found hope in the play of rookie guard [[Jackie Stiles]], who would win the [[WNBA Rookie of the Year Award]].  However, in 2002 Stiles suffered a severe injury and was out for most of the season. Without their star player, the Fire finished with a .500 record.
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The 2002 season marked the end of the Portland Fire's time in the WNBA, but it was also their most improved campaign. Following that season, the league transitioned ownership of its teams to either their NBA counterparts or independent third parties. Portland Fire chairman Paul Allen, grappling with financial challenges tied to the Trail Blazers' widely perceived underperformance, opted not to purchase the Fire franchise, ultimately leading to the team's dissolution. While a group led by [[Clyde Drexler]] and [[Terry Emmert]] expressed interest in acquiring the franchise, they were unable to finalize a deal.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mesh|first=Aaron|title=Touchdown Terry|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22079-touchdown_terry.html|access-date=April 10, 2014|newspaper=[[Willamette Week]]|date=March 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Eggers|first=Kerry|title=Blazers put out the Fire; local bidder dismayed|url=http://www.pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/118295-blazers-put-out-the-fire-local-bidder-dismayed|access-date=April 10, 2014|newspaper=[[Portland Tribune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024021013/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/118295-blazers-put-out-the-fire-local-bidder-dismayed|archive-date=October 24, 2021|date=January 30, 2003}}</ref> With this, the Fire became the only WNBA franchise not to make the playoffs, and along with the [[Miami Sol]], the WNBA franchise with the shortest lifespan.

On September 18, 2024, a new [[Portland WNBA team]] was announced that will begin playing in 2026.<ref>[https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2024/09/portland-lands-wnba-expansion-franchise-set-to-play-in-2026.html Portland lands WNBA expansion franchise set to play in 2026]</ref>