Skylar Diggins Dropped 21 in Her Sky Debut and Portland's Expansion Party Got Crashed 98-83

The Portland Fire's inaugural game was supposed to be a celebration. Instead, it turned into a masterclass in second-half execution as the Chicago Sky absolutely dismantled the expansion squad Saturday night with a 98-83 road victory. Welcome to the league, Portland. This is what happens when you run into a team that woke up.

Diggins Made an Instant Statement

Skylar Diggins, the 35-year-old free agent signing, made it clear she didn't come to Chicago to ease into things. She dropped 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in her team debut, knocking down 8 of 12 shots including two 3-pointers. That's not breaking in. That's showing up ready to win immediately. Kamilla Cardoso was the other force, recording a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Rickea Jackson added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Jacy Sheldon chipped in 13. This Sky team completely overhauled their roster after tying for the league's worst record with just 10 wins last season, and this performance showed exactly why they made those moves.

The Third Quarter Told the Real Story

Portland actually fought their way back into it. After trailing 50-37 at halftime, the Fire outscored Chicago 30-18 in the third quarter and got within one, 70-69, with 8:39 left to play. They were right there. But Chicago's fourth quarter response was devastating. The Sky went on a 15-4 run to seize control for good, with Diggins capping it off with a clutch 3-pointer that put them up 85-74 with 4:47 remaining. Cardoso's layup with 2:09 left essentially put the game away at 92-76.

The numbers tell the story: Chicago shot 47.8% from the field, dominated the boards 46-24, and made 6 of 17 from deep. Portland made 40.8% of their shots but couldn't find the glass, grabbing just three offensive rebounds. That rebounding gap was the difference.

Welcome to the WNBA, Fire

Carla Leite led Portland with 18 points. Bridget Carlson and Sarah Ashlee Barker both added 13, while Megan Gustafson chipped in 10 off the bench. It was a solid effort from a brand new team, but Chicago's firepower and depth proved too much. The Sky showed they're ready to compete this season. The Fire? They'll learn from this one fast.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.