* these are my guesses

* these are my guesses

Welcome to game one! I have no idea who Portland is going to start, and me and my Chicago Sky fan friends have no idea who Chicago is going to start! (Kevin Garnett voice) ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

In the future, I would love to project defensive matchups, because I love the size and versatility that Portland’s roster brings, and I think they will be able to really influence opposing teams with how the Fire decide to align their defenders.

For this first game, I’m curious to see more of Sarah Ashlee Barker’s defensive profile. I imagine she will guard players at her own position, but she has good size for the guard role she typically fills, so they could have S.A.B. guard up a position* if they wanted to do something like put a forward onto a ball-handler, like they do when Nyadiew Puoch is on the floor. Chicago’s injuries really shifts the balance of size in this game, so I bet even Portland is curious about how they should approach these matchups.

One thing is for sure: Kamilla Cardoso is going to have a strength advantage against Luisa Geiselsöder, and Rickea Jackson is going to need a really active defender. That inside/outside presence at the big positions for Chicago is a dynamic defensive challenge, and it is supported by a lot of veterans at the guard position (Skylar Diggins, Rachel Banham, and now Natasha Cloud).

With the injuries, the home/season opener crowd, and the small amount of practice time for all teams, I think this game is going to be a big of a “rock fight” as podcasters like to say: a physical game that might not look smooth or efficient, and one that relies more on effort, energy, and grit rather than skill and gameplanning.

The Fire just missed the opportunity to have a Seattle rivalry against Skylar Diggins, the lefty point guard and 7-time All Star and 4-time All-W First Team player who is a scrappy defender and a great offensive organizer who gets her points as well.

I know many Fire fans were calling for Portland to use their large cap space to sign a different veteran point guard whose personality meets the city’s progressive values, but the 2019 champion Natasha Cloud ended up signing with Chicago just a couple of days ago. She’ll likely come off the bench as she learns the team and its systems, but I expect a warm welcome for one of the league’s favorite people.

It’s also the Chicago debut for third-year forward Rickea (\rih-KEE-uh\) Jackson, who Chicago traded for this past pre-season. As other starters sit with injuries, Jackson has a chance to step into a bigger scoring role in these opening games. Is she going to take the third-year leap?

Offensive rebounds were a big problem in pre-season game 1 for the Fire. Chicago’s size could present a similar challenge. Can Portland bolster their team rebounding? If they can, does that kill their fast-break opportunities? Speaking of:

Fast-break points came free and easy for the Los Angeles Sparks in pre-season game 2. It seemed to be a difference in situational awareness from the veteran Sparks All-Stars and the greener Fire defenders. I assume the Fire had a good film session about this afterwards, and I’ll be watching how different players cover these threats throughout the game.

I’m not gonna talk about the number of fouls to expect. Let’s assume it’s going to be better than it has been. 🙂

Who will win? I have no idea. That’s the beauty of sports.

I’ll see you in the Fire Pit.

Guard up a position: when a player intentionally guards a player with more size, e.g. a forward defending a center, or a guard defending a forward.

New Fire jerseys!

https://portlandfireteamshop.com/collections/rose-city