Tully Bevilaqua's return to Portland offers a full-circle WNBA moment
Bevilaqua has experienced nearly every era of the WNBA. The former Portland Fire guard and current Fever staff member reflects on the league's growth, sold-out arenas and a return to Portland.
Tully Bevilaqua has seen it all in the WNBA. As the league celebrates its 30th season, the Australian guard has been part of nearly all of it.
She’s most known for her time with the Indiana Fever, both as a player and now as a member of the coaching staff.
She’s also done extensive broadcasting work for the team and served as a player development assistant from 2017-20.
Bevilaqua is now full-time with the franchise, serving as an advanced scout and video coordinator. She’s active in the team’s game preparations and sits behind the bench, in the second row, for every game.
Head coach Stephanie White was an original member of the Indiana Fever. Now she’s back for her second stint as coach. The Indiana native and 1999 Purdue national champion appreciates Bevilaqua’s passion, knowledge of the game and the fact that she’s been there and done that.
“She has different perspectives, played on a lot of different teams, played with a lot of different players; having the international experience, having coaching experience at various levels,” White said.
“Her personality is really good. She’s reflective a lot. She brings a different perspective, which I think is good. And she’s done it. I think that’s the thing you have when you look at our staff. It’s like everybody has done it, has played at this level, has won at this level. So bringing that experience and bringing that perspective is important.”
White, Bevilaqua, along with assistants Briann January and Karima Christmas-Kelly, each played for the Fever. Now they’re coaching.
It was much different when they wore the uniform. Back then, the league was still trying to build its following, so the upper level at Gainbridge Fieldhouse wasn’t open.
Instead, a giant black curtain covered the upper deck. It was removed for the WNBA Finals in 2012 thanks to generous contributions from individuals on the Pacers side.
Now?
The Fever essentially sell out every game — home and away — and all 44 regular-season games during the 2026 season will air nationally. That’s a first.
It was simply unheard of before another No. 22, Caitlin Clark, entered the league in 2024.
Bevilaqua played in the WNBA while the league was still trying to establish itself, won a championship with the Seattle Storm in 2004 and has been with the Fever in some capacity for much of the past decade.
Bevilaqua returned to Indianapolis after retiring from the league in 2012 — and has remained there ever since. She’s enjoying the increased popularity and attention the WNBA is finally receiving.
"I'm loving it because I've played for five teams in this league," she said. "So with everyone that's coming back, that's an extra reunion for me once I'm fully retired to go back and watch some games."
Bevilaqua entered the WNBA in 1998 with the Cleveland Rockers. She later spent time with the Portland Fire (2000-02), Seattle Storm (2003-04), Fever (2005-10) and San Antonio Silver Stars (2011-12).
Portland is one of two expansion franchises added this season, along with the Toronto Tempo. The organization chose to revive the Fire name and embrace its history, however brief it may have been.
The Connecticut Sun will move to Houston, restoring one of the league’s original franchises. And in 2028, Cleveland will have a WNBA team again.
“Now with all the eyes on the league and the attendances, those arenas will fill out like we didn’t maybe back then,” Bevilaqua said. “I can see those numbers are just going to be through the roof in attendance because they all want a piece of the action now.”
Because Bevilaqua is with the Fever full-time, she was unable to attend a much-anticipated Portland reunion on May 18. Former players, coaches and staff members gathered for the first time.
“I was getting FaceTimed and lots of photos from last night’s reunion with them, so it was pulling at the heartstrings not to be there,” she said before the Fire played in Indy on May 20.
“I started out with Vanessa Nygaard, who then became a head coach in the league with the Phoenix Mercury. Kristin Folkl and then Jackie Stiles, for a couple of seasons, was the legend back in those times as well.
“It just reminded me of why — just the fun and enjoyment we had all together and no one expected us to win. So I remember one of the highlights of our tenure was that Los Angeles was going for a record to break, I think the Houston Comets’ number of wins, and we were playing them in L.A., missing players. I think we’d gone down to the beach all morning to work on our tans before the game, and we came out and we won.
“And if you look back at our celebration after that game, it was like we just won the championship. But that’s how we played every game and that’s how we felt with every win that we had. So it brings back a lot of special memories.”
The reunion also brought back old photos.
"You see some of those different hairstyles back in the day? Don't worry, my mum still reminds me about it," she joked.
On Saturday, Bevilaqua will be there as the Fever play in Portland to complete a two-game trip out west.
A lot of memories will come flooding back — beyond those different hairstyles.
“When it folded initially, it was really disappointing because the team was on a momentum uphill in terms of crowd attendance records. So it was a real surprise, real disappointment when we folded,” she said.
“They’ve got huge following and it just reminds me of the team from back in my day,” she said. “They’re playing with the same integrity, fight. We’re all like the sixth, seventh players from rosters that have come together and you can just see the way that they’re playing out there. They’re just playing with so much passion, so it’s exciting.”
Bevilaqua appreciates the return of the Fire because it’s restarting the franchise’s history — and giving former players the chance to reconnect with one another and the city again.
After a close 90-88 loss Thursday in Golden State, the Fever spent the next two days in Portland. That allowed Bevilaqua, and others, to revisit some of their old stomping grounds.
“It would be nice to go back and have a look,” she said last week, looking ahead. “I would really like to go and check out the female sports bars there now — The Sports Bra. I believe they’ve got some of the old memorabilia up there, and so it’d be nice to go in there and say g’day to them for supporting the Portland Fire and everything they do, and all the other outlets around now that are really honing in on women’s sports.”
Now, Bevilaqua, Portland’s all-time assists leader, can share stories from the franchise’s early days while reconnecting with familiar faces during her return to the Moda Center.