There’s something special about a first win—especially when it comes in dramatic, last-second fashion. The Portland Fire just experienced that magic, and it was nothing short of perfect.

On Tuesday night, in front of an electric home crowd showered with streamers, the Fire pulled off a stunning 98-96 victory over the New York Liberty. The game-winner came from Sarah Ashlee-Barker, who cleaned up a miss with a putback layup at the buzzer, sending the Moda Center into a frenzy.

For an expansion team still finding its identity, this was a statement win. The Fire’s roster doesn’t boast the household names of established WNBA franchises. Instead, it’s built on gritty, hard-working players who have fought for every opportunity. Players like Bridget Carleton, Carle Leite, and Emily Engslter—role players who have never been primary options—are now writing their own story in Portland.

Bridget Carleton, in particular, showed why the Fire made her the No. 1 overall pick in the expansion draft and signed her to a three-year, $3.75 million maximum contract. Some questioned the deal for a player who had never averaged double figures, but Carleton answered those doubts in emphatic fashion. She poured in a career-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, while adding four steals. In her 33 minutes on the floor, the Fire outscored the Liberty by 12 points.

But Carleton wasn’t alone. Carla Leite, the 22-year-old guard who showed flashes of brilliance during her rookie season with the Golden State Valkyries, added 21 points of her own. The combination of Carleton’s sharpshooting and Leite’s emerging playmaking gave the Fire a dynamic backcourt that the Liberty simply couldn’t contain.

To be fair, New York wasn’t at full strength. The Liberty, a veteran squad featuring stars like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, were missing two key players—Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally—due to injuries. Still, few expected the Fire, who lost their season opener to the Chicago Sky, to knock off a team with championship aspirations.

But that’s the beauty of sports. On any given night, a team of determined, overlooked players can rise up and make history. For the Portland Fire, Tuesday wasn’t just a win—it was a glimpse of what this expansion team could become.