Portland Fire Tap Portlandia Duo to Announce WNBA Return

Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are stepping back into familiar territory in Portland — but this time, it’s for basketball.

Fred Armisen (L) and Carrie Brownstein (R).Credit : 
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

The longtime collaborators reunite in a new promotional video announcing the debut season of the WNBA’s Portland Fire, marking the franchise’s return to the league after more than two decades. The ad playfully revives the tone and rhythm that made their IFC comedy series Portlandia a cultural staple.

Set inside Mother Foucault’s Bookshop, a recognizable Portland fixture, the spot opens with Armisen remarking how good it feels to be back. Brownstein agrees, noting that the moment brings back memories of their time filming together in the city. The exchange immediately echoes the deadpan, observational humor that defined Portlandia from 2011 to 2018.

As they settle in, the pair begin trading comments about how much the city has changed. They riff on Portland’s evolving food scene, joking about new restaurants and businesses in a way that mirrors the show’s recurring “Did You Hear?” sketch — a familiar bit built on escalating one-upmanship about hyper-local trends.

Brownstein cracks that she’s heard about a new vegan restaurant where the food isn’t vegan, but the staff is. From there, the conversation spirals into increasingly absurd attempts to outdo one another with the latest Portland trivia.

The back-and-forth comes to a halt when the topic shifts to basketball. Armisen notes that the Portland Fire haven’t existed since 2002, prompting Brownstein to react with excitement at the team’s revival. She suggests they should buy season tickets as the Fire’s upcoming schedule appears on screen.

Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein on Portlandia.
Netflix

The Portland Fire originally competed in the WNBA from 2000 to 2002 before folding during the league’s early years. In September 2024, Portland was officially granted a new franchise, becoming the WNBA’s 15th team. The league later confirmed in July 2025 that the revived team would reclaim the Portland Fire name, paying homage to the city’s original women’s basketball franchise.

According to Kimberly Veale, the Fire’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, featuring Armisen and Brownstein was a deliberate creative choice designed to capture the city’s identity.

Speaking with The Oregonian, Veale explained that the goal was to launch the team’s debut season in a way that felt unmistakably Portland. She said Portlandia remains deeply tied to the city’s cultural image, making the duo the perfect fit to help introduce the team and its schedule.

By blending nostalgia, local humor, and sports history, the ad positions the Portland Fire not just as a returning franchise, but as a continuation of the city’s unique creative spirit.