In a thrilling finish that had the Moda Center on its feet, the expansion Portland Fire secured their first-ever franchise victory with a dramatic 98-96 win over the New York Liberty on Tuesday night. The game came down to the final possession, offering a moment that will be remembered by fans for years to come.
Bridget Carleton delivered a career performance, pouring in 26 points and knocking down five 3-pointers. But it was Sarah Ashlee Barker who became the hero of the night. With the game tied and the clock winding down, New York was called for a three-second violation with just 13.8 seconds remaining. Carleton's desperation three-point attempt clanked hard off the backboard, missing the rim entirely. However, Barker crashed the boards, grabbed the offensive rebound, and calmly put it back through the net just before the buzzer sounded, sparking a wild celebration as teammates mobbed her.
Carla Leite also shined for Portland (1-1), contributing 21 points and six assists. Luisa Geiselsoder and Kamiah Smalls each added 13 points, while Barker finished with five points in 22 minutes off the bench. The Fire's balanced attack proved crucial in a game that featured 28 combined three-pointers.
For New York (2-1), all five starters scored in double figures. Rookie Pauline Astier had a season-high 24 points, and Marine Johannes added 18. Jonquel Jones chipped in 17 points, while Breanna Stewart posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, adding four blocks. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton rounded out the scoring with 10 points. The Liberty played without star Sabrina Ionescu, who was sidelined with a left foot injury but was seen before the game in an Oregon sweatshirt, sharing a warm embrace with her former college coach, Kelly Graves.
The game was a back-and-forth affair in the final minutes. Carleton's three-pointer with under three minutes left gave Portland a 94-91 lead, but Johannes answered with an off-balance three as the shot clock expired to tie the game at 94 with 1:54 remaining. The defensive battle down the stretch set the stage for Barker's game-winning putback.
Portland continues to draw impressive crowds, with Tuesday night's attendance following the second-largest home opener in WNBA history (19,335 fans) on Saturday. The Fire's energy and resilience suggest they are building something special in the Pacific Northwest. The Liberty will have a chance to rebound quickly, as they remain in Portland for the second game of a back-to-back on Thursday.