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Portland Fire Unveils 2026 Inaugural Schedule With Portlandia Reunion Promo

The campaign leverages Portland identity to introduce the WNBA expansion team’s debut season, drawing national praise.

Overview

  • The franchise’s first game is scheduled for May 9 against the Chicago Sky in its return under the Fire name last used by a Portland WNBA team that folded in 2002.
  • Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen revive their Portlandia characters in a short video set at Mother Foucault’s Bookshop to reveal the schedule.
  • The skit riffs on the show’s “Did you hear?” bit and includes Easter eggs such as head coach Alex Sarama’s book appearing on-screen.
  • WNBA Hall of Famer Sylvia Fowles makes a cameo in the promo and is confirmed as a Portland Fire assistant coach for the debut season.
  • The WNBA coordinated the league-wide schedule release while teams had creative control over rollouts, and the Fire’s video drew plaudits from national sports writers.