(this actually was one of the best player pressers i've seen this year. real good stuff from both, worth the full watch. also, though she doesn't come right out and say it, it's pretty clear em intends to remain in portland next season)

em  

\- i personally need to do better. too many turnovers on my part, be more connected defensively. as a team, we're tired, back after a competitive road trip, but we need to come out the next two games against them and show them who we are. i think we're special enough to make this a more competitive game as this effort was embarrassing. we're in good spirits and looking forward to the break, but tonight is not who we are

\- we had good shots, just didn't make them. some of the disruption was gsv's defense. we need to do a better job with high gap defense and understanding what our next option is when the first is taken away. we know how good we are

\- visiting the van lith family in WA to get some chill at the water, get some schoolwork done, use their ice tub

\- kind of missing that dawg, that corgi. needed to be more aggressive tonight. we weren't the electrifying team we can be. i think we feel freeness to try things out as a team, but also knowing what we trying in this stretch will be what we can look to next season. we want to stay where we are in the standings; being just a spot out of the playoffs is similar to the valks finishing 8 last year. 

meg 

\- we made some adjustments especially in zone and liked our second half response, but agree with em,  we have to respond better out the gate

\- one of the nights when the shots weren't falling, felt good and got open looks. when you're a team that shoots 3 at high volume, you live and you die by it

\- great to have SAB back. we missed her presence. brings us together, lights up a room.

\- likes the style/game ESP plays and looking forward to the WWC experience, and playing with iyana again and getting her into the fire fold a little bit and how we work. haven't been able to talk to her much during the season, but she was super excited about being drafted to portland

\- like experimenting with the playoffs no longer on the line. sometimes we get in a rut if things don't go our way, and working on that to get out of a little quicker

Megan DiLeo, Emily Engstler & Pancake Postgame Presser; 8-30-2026 Fire vs Valkyries