The Portland Fire are wasting no time putting their stamp on year one. On Wednesday, the expansion club made a pair of late training-camp trades, sending forward Chloe Bibby to the Phoenix Mercury and guard Maya Caldwell to the Minnesota Lynx. The moves come just days before Saturday’s Moda Center debut and clear the way for Portland to lock in its first regular-season roster.
Trades confirmed in team releases
The Phoenix Mercury announced they acquired Bibby from Portland in exchange for the rights to Julia Ayrault. The Minnesota Lynx confirmed they picked up Caldwell in return for Minnesota’s 2028 third-round pick. Local newscast FOX 12 amplified the announcements, highlighting the club’s social media posts on the deals.
Timing and what it means for opening night
With Portland’s Moda Center debut set for Saturday, the trades land in the final days of training-camp cuts and give the Fire a little breathing room to settle rotations. ESPN's schedule lists the Fire hosting the Chicago Sky that night, and local observers have noted strong interest in tickets and memberships for the expansion team’s first home date. TitleTownPDX has been tracking ticket and membership sales as the opener approaches.
Player notes and roster context
Chloe Bibby, a 6-2 wing, saw limited minutes last season but knocked down better than 40 percent of her three-point attempts, according to Basketball-Reference. Maya Caldwell, a 5-11 guard, averaged roughly 5.4 points per game with Atlanta in 2025 and brought size and perimeter range to the backcourt, per Basketball-Reference. In the Bibby deal, Portland received the rights to Michigan State product Julia Ayrault, who went undrafted in 2025 and earned a Phoenix training-camp shot, according to Sports Illustrated.
What's next
Portland’s front office has framed these moves as part of a longer-term blueprint for building a contender in the city. In a statement to KOIN, the club called the upcoming campaign “the revival of a movement” and emphasized its goal of honoring the original Portland Fire’s legacy while charting a new path. Fans looking for tickets, memberships, and game information can head to the team’s official site at Portland Fire.
The Fire are expected to unveil their finalized roster Saturday at Moda Center, giving fans their first in-person look at the mix of veterans and new faces that will define this season. This story will be updated as the roster and season take shape.
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