The Pacific Northwest is about to reignite a fiery basketball feud! The iconic rivalry between Portland and Seattle is set to resume in the WNBA, and it's a clash you won't want to miss.
After an 18-year hiatus, the Portland Fire's return to the WNBA in 2026 will rekindle a storied rivalry with the Seattle Storm. Since the SuperSonics' departure from Seattle, this intense competition has been dormant, only kept alive by their soccer counterparts, the Timbers/Thorns and Sounders/Reign.
But the wait is almost over! On April 29, 2026, the Fire and Storm will face off in a preseason game, marking the first encounter since August 9, 2002. And the excitement doesn't stop there. They'll clash again on June 17 for the Commissioner's Cup in Portland, followed by regular-season matchups on July 4 and August 8 in Seattle, and August 14 in Portland.
This rivalry dates back to the early days of the WNBA. On June 3, 2000, the Fire overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Storm in Seattle, 65-58. Sylvia Crawley led the way with 18 points, while Seattle's Edna Campbell struggled with poor shooting. But the Storm struck back on August 6, forcing overtime and ultimately winning 66-58, thanks to Sonja Henning's buzzer-beater and Charmin Smith's clutch 3-pointer.
The following season, on June 19, 2001, the Fire edged out a 58-43 victory, holding Seattle to a mere 29.8% field goal percentage. However, the Storm responded on July 4, pulling away in the second half to win 61-56. The final matchup of 2001 on July 20 saw the Fire prevail 56-49, despite 17 turnovers, as Sophia Witherspoon caught fire from beyond the arc.
The 2002 season brought more thrilling contests. On June 2, Seattle stormed ahead early, leading 18-2 and never looking back. But Portland bounced back on June 11, evening the season series with a 70-63 victory. The final showdown on August 9 saw the Storm dominate the boards, securing a 83-74 win, led by a monstrous performance from Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson.
But here's where it gets fascinating: this rivalry has deep roots, predating the WNBA era. The Portland Power and Seattle Reign clashed in the American Basketball League during the late 1990s, setting the stage for the WNBA rivalry. Lin Dunn, who coached both teams, reminisced about the intense competition, stating, "There was a natural rivalry... and when we became rivals in the WNBA, it was awesome."
And this is the part most fans have been waiting for. With the Fire's return, the Pacific Northwest rivalry is back, and it promises to be as intense as ever. Will the Fire reignite their dominance, or will the Storm surge ahead? The court will decide, and the fans will be on the edge of their seats.
What do you think? Is this rivalry destined to become one of the WNBA's greatest? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
