The Portland Fire's journey back to the WNBA in 2026 is an exciting prospect, but it's a familiar challenge for coach Alex Sarama: building a new team from scratch. But here's where it gets interesting. Linda Hargrove, the original coach and general manager of the Portland Fire, shares her insights on the struggles of expansion teams. She knows firsthand the challenges of starting from zero, having led the team to a 37-59 record over three seasons. Despite the initial struggles, the team showed promise, going 16-16 in its final season, before Paul Allen decided to pull the plug in 2002. Hargrove reflects on the expansion draft, noting that it often results in acquiring primarily bench players, not the premier talent. This is a common hurdle for expansion teams, which are not included in the draft lottery and thus can't secure high draft picks in their first year. The Fire's first pick in 2000, the No. 7 pick, was Lynn Pride from Kansas. It wasn't until 2001, with the No. 4 pick, that the team secured Jackie Stiles, who became the Rookie of the Year and a standout player for the following two years. Hargrove emphasizes the importance of free agency in building a strong expansion team. The Fire strategically signed players like Sylvia Crawley, Michelle Marciniak, and Tully Bevilaqua, who had previously played in the American Basketball League but hadn't yet been drafted into the WNBA. Crawley, in particular, became a legend for the Fire, holding the team's career records in points, rebounds, and blocks. 23 years after the original team's disbandment, Hargrove was thrilled to hear about the Fire's return, and she's eager to see the new team in action this year. She reflects on her time with the Fire, describing it as one of her best experiences, and expresses her hope to return to Portland to witness the team's progress.
