Holly Winterburn: The Long Way to the WNBA
A British guard from Northampton who won a European trophy before she ever played a WNBA minute. One season at Oregon, then a pro career across England, Turkey, and Greece. Signed by Portland in May 2026 and converted to a standard contract on May 21.
Who Is Holly Winterburn?
A guard from Northampton, England, who took the long route. Winterburn played a single season at Oregon in 2019-20, a freshman behind Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally on a Pac-12 championship team, where she earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after a 17-point game. Then she went home to build a professional career in Europe rather than wait her turn in the NCAA.
That career is real. She played for the Leicester Riders and the London Lions, where in 2024 she won the EuroCup Women title, the first time a British club won a European basketball trophy. She has since played for Besiktas in Turkey and Athinaikos in Greece, and she is a member of the Great Britain national team that qualified for EuroBasket Women 2025.
How She Got to Portland
Winterburn went undrafted in 2025 and signed with the Atlanta Dream, but missed her entire rookie season with an injury. Atlanta waived her before the 2026 season opener. Portland signed her to a developmental contract on May 13, 2026, and twelve days later, on May 21, converted her to a standard player contract, the same day the Fire converted Frieda Bühner and activated Teja Oblak. She is on the active roster.
The Fit
Portland's roster is built around international pipelines, and Winterburn fits the thesis: a proven European winner the WNBA overlooked. She joins a backcourt with Carla Leite and a roster that GM Vanja Černivec has stocked with players who earned their stripes abroad. For the 2026 season, she is a depth guard with a European championship on her resume and a point to prove.
Career Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Holly Winterburn?
Holly Winterburn is a British guard (#77) on the Portland Fire. Born in Northampton, England, she played one season at Oregon, then built a pro career in Europe and won the 2024 EuroCup Women title with the London Lions. Great Britain national team.
How did she join the Fire?
Portland signed her to a developmental contract on May 13, 2026 and converted her to a standard contract on May 21. She is on the active roster.