Growing in popularity, the WNBA announces historic expansion

Online challenges are issued for people to make statements reflective of something they did without specifying the activity. Here's my statement: I remember when the WNBA had 16 teams.

- By LOIS ELFMAN

That is my reply if someone challenges me to reflect on how long I have covered the WNBA. That number was short-lived, with several teams becoming quick casualties of the WNBA ownership model changing in 2002 from all NBA teams collectively owning WNBA franchises to an individual ownership model. Among those teams that met their demise was the Portland Fire, where Jackie Stiles played one outstanding season, beating Lauren Jackson for Rookie of the Year, before injury ended her career.