Due to Sarah Ashley Barker’s season-ending torn ACL, the Portland Fire have signed Amy Okonkwo to a standard WNBA contract as her replacement. Okonkwo, who has been named MVP in the Women’s AfroBasket twice, previously played for the Dallas Wings and the Atlanta Dream. She is joining a Fire team that has had its share of injury troubles and currently holds a 13-19 record.
In a recent announcement, the Portland Fire welcomed Okonkwo with enthusiasm on social media, sharing her signing with fans.
Over the past two seasons, Okonkwo has participated in nine WNBA regular-season games, averaging 11 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals during her time with the Wings. She started this season on a training camp contract with the Wings but was let go before the regular season began. Subsequently, she signed a developmental contract with the Atlanta Dream but was released a few weeks later.
At 29 years old, Okonkwo has spent a significant part of her professional career playing overseas, with stints in Spain, France, Israel, and Mexico. Notably, she’s recognized for her contributions to the Nigerian national team, where she showcased her skills with an average of 17.4 points and 8.2 rebounds during the 2023 AfroBasket Tournament.
She also played a key role in leading Nigeria to its fifth consecutive African title in 2025, averaging 14 points per game. Moreover, Okonkwo was part of Nigeria’s teams in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, where she scored 11 points and grabbed 4.8 rebounds at the Paris Games, helping Nigeria to become the first African team, male or female, to reach the quarterfinals.
Before joining the Fire, she briefly stepped away from Nigeria’s national team training camp but is expected to return in time for the World Cup later this month.
In her first media appearance on Tuesday, Okonkwo expressed her excitement about this new opportunity, stating, “I would like to help in any way I can.”
