The Indiana Fever continue their West Coast road trip Friday night when they face the expansion Portland Fire at Moda Center, a matchup drawing major national attention thanks to Caitlin Clark’s star power.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. PT (10:00 p.m. ET) and will air on ION. The Fever enter the game at 18-10 after Caitlin Clark’s 32-point performance fueled a 105-95 victory over the Seattle Storm earlier this week. Portland sits at 11-17 in its inaugural WNBA season, playing in front of enthusiastic home crowds at the Moda Center—the same arena that once hosted the original Portland Fire franchise more than two decades ago.
This marks the third meeting between the teams in 2026. Portland took the most recent matchup, winning 100-84 at home on May 30 behind strong contributions from Megan DiLeo (formerly Gustafson) and others. Indiana earlier defeated the Fire in Indianapolis. With Clark averaging over 21 points and nearly eight assists per game, the Fever remain one of the league’s most watched teams and a consistent draw on the road.
The Fire, led by players such as Carla Leite, Bridget Carleton, and DiLeo, have shown flashes of competitiveness despite their record. Hosting Clark and a playoff-contending Fever squad represents one of the biggest home games of their first season and kicks off a five-game homestand.
Clark’s presence has helped elevate attendance and television interest across the WNBA. Friday’s national broadcast on ION ensures fans nationwide can catch the action live. Streaming options are also widely available through services carrying ION programming.
As the Fever look to stay hot after the All-Star break and Portland aims to build momentum at home, the game offers an early look at how the league’s newest franchise stacks up against one of its brightest stars. Fans in Portland and across the country won’t want to miss it.