How I Became a WNBA and NBA Fan:

Portland Fire -

I fell in love with basketball in the fourth grade. My fourth grade teacher, Ms. Rodriguez, was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and was a diehard San Antonio Spurs and San Antonio Silver Stars fan. She made sure that I knew the name of two players right away, Tim Duncan and Becky Hammon. Both were at the top of their games in the WNBA and NBA (2007), so I naturally was hooked. Growing up in the Bay Area, I didn’t have access or opportunity to ever attend WNBA games, but regardless, grew up a San Antonio Silver Stars and eventually Las Vegas Aces fan due to my love for Becky Hammon and A’ja Wilson.

I moved to Portland in 2019, as soon as I heard of a potential expansion team, I knew I was ready to become a diehard Portland WNBA fan. I submitted my deposit for season tickets 20 minutes after the 7am announcement, and have been dedicated to covering the rebirth of the franchise since day one on Portland Fire Fan Report. I’ve fully immersed myself in the Portland Fire community and have enjoyed every second of it. From the fans I’ve met a games, to the players I’ve had conversations with, to the ear ringing moments in The Fire Pit.

Memphis Grizzlies -

To be transparent, I grew up a San Antonio Spurs fan (story above), but as I left college, moved to a new city, started my adult life, I realized I know longer resonated with the San Antonio Spurs fanbase, which was causing me to lose love for watching the NBA. In 2019, I decided to become an NBA fan free agent, watching various teams every night, interacting with various fanbases, I wanted to find a team I would be excited to root for, but more importantly, I wanted to find a community of folks I resonated and loved talking basketball with.

That’s when I found Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. Growing up in the Bay Area, specifically spending most of time in Oakland and Berkeley, California, the city, people and culture of Memphis, Tennessee reminded me a lot of Oakland, California. Having just moved out of the state I grew up in for the first time in my life, the Memphis Grizzlies fans I met truly felt like home. I was able to familiarize myself with fans through social media, but more specifically Spaces on Twitter/X where I was able to hear from and connect with real fans and people from Memphis, Tennessee. It allowed me to not only understand why I love the Grizzlies, but it taught me to fall in love with the city of Memphis as well.

Fast forward to 2026, not only am I a diehard Memphis Grizzlies fan (with or without Ja Morant) but I now cover the team on @CreateHoops on Twitter/X (and now Intuitive Hoops), do Memphis Grizzlies NBA Draft content, and haven’t missed a Grizzlies game in Portland since moving here 7 years ago. There’s one thing for sure, I’ve fallen in love with the city, people and heart of Memphis, Tennessee (“the Brutiful Land in the World”). I'm a Memphis Grizzlies fan for life.