Cheryl Miller said she was wrong about the Portland Fire’s chances in 2026 after watching their recent run. She admitted little faith in the roster before the season, then praised the team’s identity and Alex Sarama’s system. The Fire beat the New York Liberty and finished a three-game road trip 2-1, and they now have two victories over the Liberty. Portland is 4-3 and sits half a game behind the Las Vegas Aces and the Minnesota Lynx in the Western Conference. The Fire were picked last by almost every outlet, but Carla Leite led them with 18 points. Leite also hit a 3-pointer over Breanna Stewart, and the Fire forced 19 turnovers into 23 points. Of Portland’s four wins this year, three came down to the final minute, including a 99-80 win at Toronto on Saturday.
