Fever’s Bevilaqua reflects on Portland Fire’s return as WNBA expansion accelerates
As the Indiana Fever host the revived Portland Fire, assistant coach Tully Bevilaqua draws on her history with the original franchise, noting the league’s broader structural growth and plans to reach 18 teams by 2030.
The Indiana Fever will host the Portland Fire at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night, a fixture that carries significant institutional weight for Fever assistant Tully Bevilaqua. Bevilaqua, 53, was a founding player for the original Portland Fire franchise, which operated from 2000 to 2002 before folding. The Fire returned as an expansion team this season, marking a full-circle moment for the Australian national, who now serves as an advance scout and video coordinator for the Fever.
The original Portland Fire was one of the WNBA’s inaugural teams in 2000, playing three seasons with a 37-59 record before ceasing operations. Bevilaqua, who played 14 WNBA seasons across five teams, was a member of the Fire for its entire first iteration. She recorded two points, four assists, and eight rebounds in the team’s first victory over the Seattle Storm, and contributed to a notable 80-77 upset win over the Los Angeles Sparks in 2000, which ended the Sparks’ 12-game winning streak.
Bevilaqua’s connection to the current Fire is both professional and historical. She recalls the disappointment of the original franchise’s folding, noting that the team was on an upward trajectory in terms of attendance and performance. She expressed pride in the current team’s integrity and passion, observing that the revived squad plays with the same fight as the original group. The current Fire recently secured a 98-96 victory over the New York Liberty, with Sarah Ashlee Barker hitting a buzzer-beater layup.
Fever coach Stephanie White, who also played in the first game between Indiana and Portland in 2000, acknowledged the historical significance of the matchup. White, who finished with seven points and one steal in that 68-64 loss to the Fire, described the current Portland side as a “scrappy, tough team.” While Bevilaqua’s allegiance remains with the Fever as they pursue a championship, she noted that the league’s expansion is reinvigorating for former players and franchises alike.
The WNBA is currently in a phase of significant expansion, with the Toronto Tempo also joining as an expansion team this season. Bevilaqua highlighted the league’s plan to expand to 18 teams by 2030, which includes the return of the Cleveland Rockers. She anticipates that increased attention and attendance will benefit all returning franchises, suggesting that arenas will fill at higher rates than during the original Fire’s tenure.
