Sky vs – Skylar Diggins powered the Sky to a 98-83 win over the reintroduced Portland Fire, answering second-half pressure with steady play.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The road test was supposed to feel routine, but Portland’s home crowd and a more aggressive second half turned it into a real test for the Sky.
Sky guard Skylar Diggins said ahead of the regular-season opener that it might not look glamorous on the surface. pointing to a new roster and an injury report that listed five players.. Instead of settling into survival-mode early. the Sky jumped out with sharp execution. building a 13-point lead in the first half and setting the tone for how they wanted to play.
Much of the early momentum traced back to the pick-and-roll, where Diggins repeatedly found Cardoso. The connection was immediate and consistent, and it helped the Sky stretch the game before Portland could fully settle in.
The matchup tightened after halftime as the Fire increased the pressure defensively. In the third quarter, that pressure created disruptions that forced two 10-second violations, a sign Portland was trying to change the tempo and make ball-handling decisions riskier than they were in the first half.
Diggins acknowledged the challenge, describing the Fire as scrappy and relentless. She said their energy and pressure made things difficult, including their willingness to keep running and jump while trying to trap and generate problems for the Sky’s offense.
Still, when the Fire surged, the Sky did not unravel. Portland tied the game at 70-70 in the fourth quarter, but it was the Sky’s response that mattered most: they never allowed the Fire to take the lead and pulled away in the closing stretch.
Elizabeth Williams played key minutes late, delivering a perfect 3-for-3 performance from the field in the final period. Her scoring provided a practical counter to Cardoso’s continued impact inside, helping the Sky keep the gap from shrinking as the game entered its final possessions.
Diggins also made a crucial play with the game still in reach for Portland. With 4:47 remaining, she hit a key 3-pointer that pushed the lead back into double digits, shifting the pressure away from the Sky’s perimeter and back onto the Fire’s defense.
On the night, Diggins finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, showing a full range of production. She said what stood out to her was the team’s response—staying together and not letting the emotion of the momentum swings push them into reckless highs or lows.
Portland’s setting added another layer to the evening.. The Fire were resurrected this season from the franchise that folded in 2002. and the return was met with visible excitement from the community.. A sellout crowd of 19. 335 gave the Fire a standing ovation after the loss. a moment that underlined how much the team’s return means in the city.
For Diggins, the atmosphere was unforgettable. She said her ears were still ringing and her voice was hoarse from shouting, while also calling it exciting to see the new environment the Fire created and the excitement around adding the team back to women’s basketball.
On the Portland side, Carla Leite led the Fire with 18 points, providing a steady scoring presence. Rickea Jackson answered for the Sky with 19 points, converting 8 of 10 free throws, a detail that matters in tight stretches when games are often decided by how teams handle pressure at the line.
Cardoso also produced a standout stat line despite the final score, finishing with 22 points and 14 rebounds. For the Sky, that kind of rebounding and interior output helped sustain their offense across multiple quarters, even when Portland tried to disrupt the game’s rhythm.
In addition to the veterans, the Sky got contributions from their newest rotation. Rookie Gabriela Jaquez made her first start and delivered 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, adding a burst of energy that complemented the team’s more established roles.
Behind the final margin. the game reflected a classic early-season dynamic: new pieces fitting together. pressure changing quarter to quarter. and the ability to respond once the opponent finds a spark.. The Sky proved they could withstand a Portland run without losing their structure. while the Fire demonstrated that their return would come with intensity. even against a team built for the long haul.
Sky vs Fire Skylar Diggins Portland Fire women’s basketball Elizabeth Williams Cardoso