STWF Sports | PORTLAND, Ore. |June 13, 2026 — The Dallas Wings will continue their road-heavy stretch Saturday night with a first-time matchup against the Portland Fire at Moda Center.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and 5:30 p.m. PT, with the game airing locally on KFAA. Ron Thulin will handle play-by-play duties, while Fran Harris will serve as analyst.
Dallas enters the contest at 8-4 and playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Wings have won five of their last six games and sit at 3-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play. Portland comes in at 6-8, looking to stop a four-game losing streak and still searching for its first win in in-season tournament action.
Saturday’s meeting will be the first-ever game between the Wings and Fire, adding a new chapter to the WNBA schedule as Portland continues its expansion season.
The Impact of the Dallas Wings in WNBA History
Dallas arrives with momentum after an 85-70 home win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night at College Park Center. The Wings responded well after a lopsided loss in Minnesota earlier in the week, using efficient scoring, strong paint production and active defense to get back into the win column.
Paige Bueckers led the way with one of her best performances of the season. She scored a season-high 31 points, added six rebounds, five assists and one steal, and shot 70 percent from the field on a 14-of-20 night. Bueckers controlled the pace, scored from multiple levels and gave Dallas a steady offensive presence whenever Phoenix tried to build momentum.
Her performance also continued a strong individual stretch for the Wings’ lead guard, who has quickly become the center of Dallas’ offensive identity. When Bueckers is scoring efficiently and creating for others, the Wings are difficult to slow down.
Jessica Shepard also continued her standout season against Phoenix, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the year. Shepard’s ability to rebound, facilitate and finish inside has been one of the biggest reasons Dallas has remained near the top of the league in offensive flow and team balance.
Azzi Fudd matched Shepard with 17 points while adding three rebounds, a career-high four assists and three blocks. Her development on both ends has given Dallas another reliable guard option, especially with her ability to space the floor and disrupt plays defensively.
That balanced production will be important against a Portland team trying to protect home court and end its recent slide. The Fire’s last outing came Thursday night, a 105-89 home loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Portland has shown flashes during its first season, but consistency remains the challenge as the roster continues to build chemistry.
There will also be some familiar connections in Saturday’s matchup. Portland selected two former Wings players in the 2026 expansion draft: center Luisa Geiselsöder and forward Haley Jones. Geiselsöder has appeared in all 14 of Portland’s regular-season games and has started nine. She enters Saturday averaging 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Jones appeared in five games for the Fire before being waived on May 21.
For Dallas, the key will be maintaining the same focus it showed against Phoenix. The Wings have been at their best when they move the ball, attack the paint and avoid long stretches of stagnant offense. With Bueckers, Shepard, Fudd and Arike Ogunbowale all capable of generating scoring pressure, Dallas has the pieces to challenge Portland’s defense early.
The Wings will also need to keep control of the glass. Dallas has been effective when it rebounds well and limits second-chance opportunities. Shepard’s presence inside, combined with team rebounding from the guards, will be important against a Portland group looking for energy plays at home.
Commissioner’s Cup positioning gives the matchup added value. Dallas is already 3-1 in Cup play and has a chance to strengthen its standing with another road win. Portland, meanwhile, is trying to break through and pick up its first Cup victory.
Saturday night is a chance for Dallas to keep stacking wins and prove its strong start can travel. Against a Fire team hungry to end a losing streak, the Wings will need another mature performance to keep their momentum moving.
