Katy Steding's journey with basketball has been nothing short of inspiring, and her impact on the sport, especially in her hometown of Portland, is about to make a comeback.
A Dream Come True
For Steding, professional basketball was always the ultimate goal, a dream she nurtured from a young age. Growing up in Lake Oswego in the 1970s, she couldn't have imagined the impact she'd have on the sport in her own backyard. But her journey with the Portland Power transformed her into a local hero.
"Pro basketball in Portland was a lifelong dream," Steding shared with The Oregonian/OregonLive. "The experience with the Portland Power was incredible; it felt like a dream come true."
A New Generation Inspired
With the Portland Fire's return to the WNBA in 2026, Steding believes a new generation of young Oregonians will be inspired to pursue their basketball dreams.
"Having role models in sports is so important for young women. They find players to look up to and emulate, and that's a huge gain for their development," Steding said, reflecting on her current role as an assistant coach at Stanford.
A Hometown Hero
Steding's basketball journey began at Lake Oswego High School, where she scored an impressive 1,405 points in the early '80s, becoming the Lakers' all-time leading scorer (a record later broken by Kelsey Lavender). Her talent took her to Stanford, where she led the team to the NCAA Championship in 1990 and earned a spot on the All Pac-10 team three times. Her international success followed with Team USA, winning Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996.
But it was her time with the Portland Power that holds a special place in her heart. Starting her American professional career with the Power in 1996, Steding was a part of the team's entire run until 1998.
"I've always been proud to be from Oregon, from Portland. Having those connections and being able to help kickstart basketball here was incredible," Steding said.
Community Embrace
What made her time with the Power extra special was the community's embrace of the team.
"We had the best fans, hands down. Loyal, supportive, and engaged. They were knowledgeable about the game and always on our side."
As a local, Steding was often sent to community events and regularly spoke at Portland schools. These interactions, she believes, were key to the team's popularity.
"We were always active in the community. It wasn't a hands-off approach. That's what made it so wonderful. It was truly one of the highlights of my life."
A Unique Sports Culture
Despite a challenging start in 1996, missing the playoffs with a 14-26 record, the Portland Power had the second-highest attendance in the ABL. Steding attributes this to the unique sports culture in Portland and Oregon's love for women's sports.
"It was a time when we could really own Portland women's basketball and, by extension, women's sports. The community craves professional women's sports, and the more opportunities they have to see women excel, the better."
A Lasting Impact
As an Oregonian, Steding understands the importance of access to women's basketball in elevating the game at the youth level. Her work as an assistant coach at Stanford, her alma mater, has allowed her to work closely with fellow Oregonians like Cameron Brink, who played at Mountainside and Southridge and led multiple teams to the Class 6A state championship game.
"There are so many talented players who have been part of the Oregon sports community, whether they were born and raised here or came from elsewhere."
A Coach's Journey
After the ABL folded in 1998, Steding continued her professional journey, spending time with the Sacramento Monarchs and Seattle Storm before transitioning to coaching. She spent seven years coaching in her hometown at Warner Pacific and has since been an assistant coach at various teams, including San Francisco, the Atlanta Dream, Columbia, and now Stanford, where she's been since 2020.
Despite her travels, Steding considers Oregon her home. Most of her family still resides in the metro area, and she feels a deep connection to the state.
"It's my favorite place to be."
And This Is Where It Gets Interesting...
Steding's story is a testament to the power of sports in bringing communities together and inspiring the next generation. But here's where it gets controversial: Do you think the return of the Portland Fire will have the same impact as the Portland Power had in the late '90s? Will the community embrace the team with the same fervor? And what about the role of women's sports in Oregon - is it still as strong as it was back then? These are questions that spark differing opinions, and we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
