I’d enjoy covering Portland’s WNBA team. Let me tell you why that probably can’t happen

The event venue Moda Center in Portland on a sunny day.

Published March 25, 2026

Being a journalism free agent as Portland’s first season in the WNBA since 2002 unfolds seems like great timing. I can’t imagine much that would be more fun or energizing than covering the Portland Fire.

It represents so many things and people I believe in.

There are many logistical problems. For starters, I don’t have the resources to do it. Right now the cost of gas to get to and from the practice facility and the games at Moda Center would eat me alive. Forget about traveling to road games.

Would I get credentials, a seat on press row? Nobody knows who I am here. That’s a far cry from covering LSU for the Baton Rouge daily newspaper. People stopped me in grocery stores to tell me what they thought of my most recent story. Those days are over.

“Who are you with, again?” I can imagine someone from the Portland Fire asking.

Oh, just me. I’m just me. Me and my little website.

 

I’ve even worked for CBS, but not for “60 Minutes.” Also? That scene doesn’t land the way it once did. Bari Weiss has seen to that.

Speaking of LSU, Sylvia Fowles is on the Portland Fire coaching staff.

Anyway, I know how to do the job. I’d enjoy doing the job. I’ve covered Nick Saban and a lot of the other big egos. I always loved covering women’s basketball. Pat Summitt. Sue Gunter. Leon Barmore. Rebecca Lobo. Carolyn Peck. Stephanie White. Geno Auriemma. Eun Jung Lee Ok. Lisa Ingram. Was lucky enough to watch and interview them all, and more.

It costs too much

Let’s face it: I can’t afford it. I’d need money to pay photographers. I’d have to generate enough stories to justify selling subscriptions or ads — or hope for a benefactor with deep pockets who loves women’s basketball coverage.

I thought about visiting The Sports Bra in Portland to see if folks there knew of such a person, but it’s too much of a long shot to even give it a go.

Right now I’m reduced to thinking of aggregating Portland Fire coverage on my site, but people have to be able to depend on you, and right now I don’t know if there’s enough content to make it worth anybody’s time.

And if you start, then stop, people will never give you another chance. I created a category for it on here, just in case.

There’s also the matter of having someone backing you up if the team or the league threatens you if they don’t like your coverage. It can happen.

Until now, even the existence of a WNBA season this year has been so iffy, I had pretty much given up on the idea. So much is in disarray right now.

To sum up, that’s what’s been on my mind lately. But it’s mostly just a nice fantasy unless my ship comes in, as they say.

Play ball

Meanwhile, it’s Opening Day (one game) for Major League Baseball. I’m going to lean into the Seattle Mariners this season (their opener is part of the packed schedule tomorrow) and, speaking again of basketball, root for the NBA to return soon.

For two decades, Washingtonians have mourned the loss of our Sonics. Today’s vote is a milestone in the effort to bring NBA basketball back home.

The time is right. The state-of-the-art Climate Pledge Arena already hosts professional basketball and hockey with the Storm, Kraken, and Torrent…

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— Gov. Bob Ferguson (@governorferguson.bsky.social) March 25, 2026 at 9:10 AM

It doesn’t feel like such a long shot anymore.

Sending love. Protect your peace.

Moda Center photo by ARTYOORAN via Shutterstock.

♥

Thank you

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