INDIANAPOLIS — For three quarters of Friday’s game against the Mystics, Caitlin Clark could hardly hit a shot. In the fourth quarter, she could hardly miss.
![Caitlin Clark’s fourth quarter heroics nearly lead Fever to win INDIANAPOLIS — For three quarters of Friday’s game against the Mystics, Caitlin Clark could hardly hit a shot. In the fourth quarter, she could hardly miss.Clark scored 17 of her 32 points, including five 3-pointers, in a wild final frame of regulation and dragged the Fever back into a game against the Mystics they looked set to lose. Her fifth 3-pointer was the biggest of the night as it forced overtime in the waning seconds.Even though Clark’s heroics would not be enough as the Fever fell to Washington in the extra session in one of the best finishes of the young WNBA season, it still highlighted just how quickly things can change with Clark on the floor.“I felt like I could have made another like five [threes],” Clark said postgame. “They’re all like right there and, obviously, it’s great to break through and get some to go down.”Clark hit a pair of threes on successive possessions midway through the first quarter. As it would turn out, those would be her only two makes through the first three periods.Clark was an ice cold 2-15 from the field and 2-7 from three heading into the fourth, mirroring the Fever’s offensive struggles as team as they were shooting just 32.8% from the field in that span.But back-to-back threes from Clark in the first 90 seconds of the fourth were a precursor of what was to come in the final 10 minutes.Clark scored or assisted on 11 of the first 12 points of the period. The only point she didn’t directly create was a Monique Billings free throw…which came on a foul after a Clark pass. She would go on to assist or score on 18 of the first 21 points for the Fever as they pulled themselves back into the game.Her third three gave the Fever a short-lived 70-69 lead. By the time she connected on her fourth three, the Fever trailed by four with just over 90 seconds left. That deficit grew to eight with 51 seconds left, leaving Indiana in need of a miracle.After a Myisha Hines-Allen layup, a Mystics turnover led to a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to just three. The two teams traded free throws, leaving the Fever down three with 5.1 seconds left.A great play design from Indiana head coach Stephanie White created just enough room for Clark to get off a shot as she drifted out-of-bounds. It was all the space she would need as the shot found nylon, tying the game with 1.7 seconds left.“That’s like the hardest thing as a basketball player is when you’re not making shots to really stay in it,” Clark said. “So I’m certainly proud of myself. Really, really battled.”The Fever were given one more scare in the wild fourth quarter as Sonia Citron’s half-court heave swished through the net, but it came after the buzzer, sending the sides to overtime.Unfortunately, all those heroics to force the extra session were for naught as the Mystics responded again, building a multi-possession lead in the closing minutes. Again, though, they left the door open as missed free throws and a timely 3-pointer from Lexie Hull gave Indiana a chance in the final seconds.However, a desperation shot from Mitchell fell short at the buzzer, allowing Washington to escape with a dramatic win.For the Fever, as much as they can take away from their fight in the fourth and overtime, it was the middle quarters that were the most costly. Indiana shot 10-42 in the second and third periods, including 3-19 from range.“If we don’t have three clunky quarters, we don’t force ourselves into basketball heroics,“ Clark said. ”We don’t want to play that way. Like I know it’s exciting for the crowd, but we should have had ourselves in a position, especially after the first quarter, to control this ballgame and we really didn’t.”Friday was the second time in three games the Fever have eclipsed 100 points. Ironically, they have lost both of those contests, a sign of both how great this team can be offensively and how much work they still have on the other end.“We put a lot of pressure on our offense to be perfect when we don’t consistently defend,” head coach Stephanie White said. “Again, this is on us as coaches. This is our responsibility. We’ve got to be disciplined the entire game. We’ve got to be disciplined every possession. We’re taking chances. We’re fouling shooters who are about to shoot tough shots. We’ve got breakdowns in coverages. We’ve got to find combinations of players and rotations that’s net efficiency can be good.“We can’t wait to play defense in situations where we feel good and we’re making shots. It seems like we’re making shots and everything’s flowing and we’ve got energy on the defensive end, and when we’re not, we don’t. It’s got to be the other way around. The energy has to be dictated on that end of the floor and that’s a mindset.”As dramatic and exciting as Friday’s fourth quarter was, the game as a whole highlighted where the Fever need to grow. No team wants to have to rely on “basketball heroics” to potentially win a game.But it was also a sign of just how special Clark can be and how quickly she can deliver those heroics to try to save the Fever from defeat. #Caitlin #Clarks #fourth #quarter #heroics #lead #Fever #win](https://i1.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/gettyimages-2275874262.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C10.732984293194%2C100%2C78.534031413613&w=1200&ssl=1 "Caitlin Clark’s fourth quarter heroics nearly lead Fever to win INDIANAPOLIS — For three quarters of Friday’s game against the Mystics, Caitlin Clark could hardly hit a shot. In the fourth quarter, she could hardly miss.Clark scored 17 of her 32 points, including five 3-pointers, in a wild final frame of regulation and dragged the Fever back into a game against the Mystics they looked set to lose. Her fifth 3-pointer was the biggest of the night as it forced overtime in the waning seconds.Even though Clark’s heroics would not be enough as the Fever fell to Washington in the extra session in one of the best finishes of the young WNBA season, it still highlighted just how quickly things can change with Clark on the floor.“I felt like I could have made another like five [threes],” Clark said postgame. “They’re all like right there and, obviously, it’s great to break through and get some to go down.”Clark hit a pair of threes on successive possessions midway through the first quarter. As it would turn out, those would be her only two makes through the first three periods.Clark was an ice cold 2-15 from the field and 2-7 from three heading into the fourth, mirroring the Fever’s offensive struggles as team as they were shooting just 32.8% from the field in that span.But back-to-back threes from Clark in the first 90 seconds of the fourth were a precursor of what was to come in the final 10 minutes.Clark scored or assisted on 11 of the first 12 points of the period. The only point she didn’t directly create was a Monique Billings free throw…which came on a foul after a Clark pass. She would go on to assist or score on 18 of the first 21 points for the Fever as they pulled themselves back into the game.Her third three gave the Fever a short-lived 70-69 lead. By the time she connected on her fourth three, the Fever trailed by four with just over 90 seconds left. That deficit grew to eight with 51 seconds left, leaving Indiana in need of a miracle.After a Myisha Hines-Allen layup, a Mystics turnover led to a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to just three. The two teams traded free throws, leaving the Fever down three with 5.1 seconds left.A great play design from Indiana head coach Stephanie White created just enough room for Clark to get off a shot as she drifted out-of-bounds. It was all the space she would need as the shot found nylon, tying the game with 1.7 seconds left.“That’s like the hardest thing as a basketball player is when you’re not making shots to really stay in it,” Clark said. “So I’m certainly proud of myself. Really, really battled.”The Fever were given one more scare in the wild fourth quarter as Sonia Citron’s half-court heave swished through the net, but it came after the buzzer, sending the sides to overtime.Unfortunately, all those heroics to force the extra session were for naught as the Mystics responded again, building a multi-possession lead in the closing minutes. Again, though, they left the door open as missed free throws and a timely 3-pointer from Lexie Hull gave Indiana a chance in the final seconds.However, a desperation shot from Mitchell fell short at the buzzer, allowing Washington to escape with a dramatic win.For the Fever, as much as they can take away from their fight in the fourth and overtime, it was the middle quarters that were the most costly. Indiana shot 10-42 in the second and third periods, including 3-19 from range.“If we don’t have three clunky quarters, we don’t force ourselves into basketball heroics,“ Clark said. ”We don’t want to play that way. Like I know it’s exciting for the crowd, but we should have had ourselves in a position, especially after the first quarter, to control this ballgame and we really didn’t.”Friday was the second time in three games the Fever have eclipsed 100 points. Ironically, they have lost both of those contests, a sign of both how great this team can be offensively and how much work they still have on the other end.“We put a lot of pressure on our offense to be perfect when we don’t consistently defend,” head coach Stephanie White said. “Again, this is on us as coaches. This is our responsibility. We’ve got to be disciplined the entire game. We’ve got to be disciplined every possession. We’re taking chances. We’re fouling shooters who are about to shoot tough shots. We’ve got breakdowns in coverages. We’ve got to find combinations of players and rotations that’s net efficiency can be good.“We can’t wait to play defense in situations where we feel good and we’re making shots. It seems like we’re making shots and everything’s flowing and we’ve got energy on the defensive end, and when we’re not, we don’t. It’s got to be the other way around. The energy has to be dictated on that end of the floor and that’s a mindset.”As dramatic and exciting as Friday’s fourth quarter was, the game as a whole highlighted where the Fever need to grow. No team wants to have to rely on “basketball heroics” to potentially win a game.But it was also a sign of just how special Clark can be and how quickly she can deliver those heroics to try to save the Fever from defeat. #Caitlin #Clarks #fourth #quarter #heroics #lead #Fever #win")
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#Caitlin #Clarks #fourth #quarter #heroics #lead #Fever #win">Caitlin Clark’s fourth quarter heroics nearly lead Fever to win
INDIANAPOLIS — For three quarters of Friday’s game against the Mystics, Caitlin Clark could hardly hit a shot. In the fourth quarter, she could hardly miss.
Clark scored 17 of her 32 points, including five 3-pointers, in a wild final frame of regulation and dragged the Fever back into a game against the Mystics they looked set to lose. Her fifth 3-pointer was the biggest of the night as it forced overtime in the waning seconds.
Even though Clark’s heroics would not be enough as the Fever fell to Washington in the extra session in one of the best finishes of the young WNBA season, it still highlighted just how quickly things can change with Clark on the floor.
“I felt like I could have made another like five [threes],” Clark said postgame. “They’re all like right there and, obviously, it’s great to break through and get some to go down.”
Clark hit a pair of threes on successive possessions midway through the first quarter. As it would turn out, those would be her only two makes through the first three periods.
Clark was an ice cold 2-15 from the field and 2-7 from three heading into the fourth, mirroring the Fever’s offensive struggles as team as they were shooting just 32.8% from the field in that span.
But back-to-back threes from Clark in the first 90 seconds of the fourth were a precursor of what was to come in the final 10 minutes.
Clark scored or assisted on 11 of the first 12 points of the period. The only point she didn’t directly create was a Monique Billings free throw…which came on a foul after a Clark pass. She would go on to assist or score on 18 of the first 21 points for the Fever as they pulled themselves back into the game.
Her third three gave the Fever a short-lived 70-69 lead. By the time she connected on her fourth three, the Fever trailed by four with just over 90 seconds left. That deficit grew to eight with 51 seconds left, leaving Indiana in need of a miracle.
After a Myisha Hines-Allen layup, a Mystics turnover led to a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to just three. The two teams traded free throws, leaving the Fever down three with 5.1 seconds left.
A great play design from Indiana head coach Stephanie White created just enough room for Clark to get off a shot as she drifted out-of-bounds. It was all the space she would need as the shot found nylon, tying the game with 1.7 seconds left.
“That’s like the hardest thing as a basketball player is when you’re not making shots to really stay in it,” Clark said. “So I’m certainly proud of myself. Really, really battled.”
The Fever were given one more scare in the wild fourth quarter as Sonia Citron’s half-court heave swished through the net, but it came after the buzzer, sending the sides to overtime.
Unfortunately, all those heroics to force the extra session were for naught as the Mystics responded again, building a multi-possession lead in the closing minutes. Again, though, they left the door open as missed free throws and a timely 3-pointer from Lexie Hull gave Indiana a chance in the final seconds.
However, a desperation shot from Mitchell fell short at the buzzer, allowing Washington to escape with a dramatic win.
For the Fever, as much as they can take away from their fight in the fourth and overtime, it was the middle quarters that were the most costly. Indiana shot 10-42 in the second and third periods, including 3-19 from range.
“If we don’t have three clunky quarters, we don’t force ourselves into basketball heroics,“ Clark said. ”We don’t want to play that way. Like I know it’s exciting for the crowd, but we should have had ourselves in a position, especially after the first quarter, to control this ballgame and we really didn’t.”
Friday was the second time in three games the Fever have eclipsed 100 points. Ironically, they have lost both of those contests, a sign of both how great this team can be offensively and how much work they still have on the other end.
“We put a lot of pressure on our offense to be perfect when we don’t consistently defend,” head coach Stephanie White said. “Again, this is on us as coaches. This is our responsibility. We’ve got to be disciplined the entire game. We’ve got to be disciplined every possession. We’re taking chances. We’re fouling shooters who are about to shoot tough shots. We’ve got breakdowns in coverages. We’ve got to find combinations of players and rotations that’s net efficiency can be good.
“We can’t wait to play defense in situations where we feel good and we’re making shots. It seems like we’re making shots and everything’s flowing and we’ve got energy on the defensive end, and when we’re not, we don’t. It’s got to be the other way around. The energy has to be dictated on that end of the floor and that’s a mindset.”
As dramatic and exciting as Friday’s fourth quarter was, the game as a whole highlighted where the Fever need to grow. No team wants to have to rely on “basketball heroics” to potentially win a game.
But it was also a sign of just how special Clark can be and how quickly she can deliver those heroics to try to save the Fever from defeat.
INDIANAPOLIS — For three quarters of Friday’s game against the Mystics, Caitlin Clark could hardly hit a shot. In the fourth quarter, she could hardly miss.
Clark scored 17 of her 32 points, including five 3-pointers, in a wild final frame of regulation and dragged the Fever back into a game against the Mystics they looked set to lose. Her fifth 3-pointer was the biggest of the night as it forced overtime in the waning seconds.
Even though Clark’s heroics would not be enough as the Fever fell to Washington in the extra session in one of the best finishes of the young WNBA season, it still highlighted just how quickly things can change with Clark on the floor.
“I felt like I could have made another like five [threes],” Clark said postgame. “They’re all like right there and, obviously, it’s great to break through and get some to go down.”
Clark hit a pair of threes on successive possessions midway through the first quarter. As it would turn out, those would be her only two makes through the first three periods.
Clark was an ice cold 2-15 from the field and 2-7 from three heading into the fourth, mirroring the Fever’s offensive struggles as team as they were shooting just 32.8% from the field in that span.
But back-to-back threes from Clark in the first 90 seconds of the fourth were a precursor of what was to come in the final 10 minutes.
Clark scored or assisted on 11 of the first 12 points of the period. The only point she didn’t directly create was a Monique Billings free throw…which came on a foul after a Clark pass. She would go on to assist or score on 18 of the first 21 points for the Fever as they pulled themselves back into the game.
Her third three gave the Fever a short-lived 70-69 lead. By the time she connected on her fourth three, the Fever trailed by four with just over 90 seconds left. That deficit grew to eight with 51 seconds left, leaving Indiana in need of a miracle.
After a Myisha Hines-Allen layup, a Mystics turnover led to a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to just three. The two teams traded free throws, leaving the Fever down three with 5.1 seconds left.
A great play design from Indiana head coach Stephanie White created just enough room for Clark to get off a shot as she drifted out-of-bounds. It was all the space she would need as the shot found nylon, tying the game with 1.7 seconds left.
“That’s like the hardest thing as a basketball player is when you’re not making shots to really stay in it,” Clark said. “So I’m certainly proud of myself. Really, really battled.”
The Fever were given one more scare in the wild fourth quarter as Sonia Citron’s half-court heave swished through the net, but it came after the buzzer, sending the sides to overtime.
Unfortunately, all those heroics to force the extra session were for naught as the Mystics responded again, building a multi-possession lead in the closing minutes. Again, though, they left the door open as missed free throws and a timely 3-pointer from Lexie Hull gave Indiana a chance in the final seconds.
However, a desperation shot from Mitchell fell short at the buzzer, allowing Washington to escape with a dramatic win.
For the Fever, as much as they can take away from their fight in the fourth and overtime, it was the middle quarters that were the most costly. Indiana shot 10-42 in the second and third periods, including 3-19 from range.
“If we don’t have three clunky quarters, we don’t force ourselves into basketball heroics,“ Clark said. ”We don’t want to play that way. Like I know it’s exciting for the crowd, but we should have had ourselves in a position, especially after the first quarter, to control this ballgame and we really didn’t.”
Friday was the second time in three games the Fever have eclipsed 100 points. Ironically, they have lost both of those contests, a sign of both how great this team can be offensively and how much work they still have on the other end.
“We put a lot of pressure on our offense to be perfect when we don’t consistently defend,” head coach Stephanie White said. “Again, this is on us as coaches. This is our responsibility. We’ve got to be disciplined the entire game. We’ve got to be disciplined every possession. We’re taking chances. We’re fouling shooters who are about to shoot tough shots. We’ve got breakdowns in coverages. We’ve got to find combinations of players and rotations that’s net efficiency can be good.
“We can’t wait to play defense in situations where we feel good and we’re making shots. It seems like we’re making shots and everything’s flowing and we’ve got energy on the defensive end, and when we’re not, we don’t. It’s got to be the other way around. The energy has to be dictated on that end of the floor and that’s a mindset.”
As dramatic and exciting as Friday’s fourth quarter was, the game as a whole highlighted where the Fever need to grow. No team wants to have to rely on “basketball heroics” to potentially win a game.
But it was also a sign of just how special Clark can be and how quickly she can deliver those heroics to try to save the Fever from defeat.
INDIANAPOLIS — For three quarters of Friday’s game against the Mystics, Caitlin Clark could hardly hit a shot. In the fourth quarter, she could hardly miss.
Clark scored 17 of her 32 points, including five 3-pointers, in a wild final frame of regulation and dragged the Fever back into a game against the Mystics they looked set to lose. Her fifth 3-pointer was the biggest of the night as it forced overtime in the waning seconds.
Even though Clark’s heroics would not be enough as the Fever fell to Washington in the extra session in one of the best finishes of the young WNBA season, it still highlighted just how quickly things can change with Clark on the floor.
“I felt like I could have made another like five [threes],” Clark said postgame. “They’re all like right there and, obviously, it’s great to break through and get some to go down.”
Clark hit a pair of threes on successive possessions midway through the first quarter. As it would turn out, those would be her only two makes through the first three periods.
Clark was an ice cold 2-15 from the field and 2-7 from three heading into the fourth, mirroring the Fever’s offensive struggles as team as they were shooting just 32.8% from the field in that span.
But back-to-back threes from Clark in the first 90 seconds of the fourth were a precursor of what was to come in the final 10 minutes.
Clark scored or assisted on 11 of the first 12 points of the period. The only point she didn’t directly create was a Monique Billings free throw…which came on a foul after a Clark pass. She would go on to assist or score on 18 of the first 21 points for the Fever as they pulled themselves back into the game.
Her third three gave the Fever a short-lived 70-69 lead. By the time she connected on her fourth three, the Fever trailed by four with just over 90 seconds left. That deficit grew to eight with 51 seconds left, leaving Indiana in need of a miracle.
After a Myisha Hines-Allen layup, a Mystics turnover led to a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to just three. The two teams traded free throws, leaving the Fever down three with 5.1 seconds left.
A great play design from Indiana head coach Stephanie White created just enough room for Clark to get off a shot as she drifted out-of-bounds. It was all the space she would need as the shot found nylon, tying the game with 1.7 seconds left.
“That’s like the hardest thing as a basketball player is when you’re not making shots to really stay in it,” Clark said. “So I’m certainly proud of myself. Really, really battled.”
The Fever were given one more scare in the wild fourth quarter as Sonia Citron’s half-court heave swished through the net, but it came after the buzzer, sending the sides to overtime.
Unfortunately, all those heroics to force the extra session were for naught as the Mystics responded again, building a multi-possession lead in the closing minutes. Again, though, they left the door open as missed free throws and a timely 3-pointer from Lexie Hull gave Indiana a chance in the final seconds.
However, a desperation shot from Mitchell fell short at the buzzer, allowing Washington to escape with a dramatic win.
For the Fever, as much as they can take away from their fight in the fourth and overtime, it was the middle quarters that were the most costly. Indiana shot 10-42 in the second and third periods, including 3-19 from range.
“If we don’t have three clunky quarters, we don’t force ourselves into basketball heroics,“ Clark said. ”We don’t want to play that way. Like I know it’s exciting for the crowd, but we should have had ourselves in a position, especially after the first quarter, to control this ballgame and we really didn’t.”
Friday was the second time in three games the Fever have eclipsed 100 points. Ironically, they have lost both of those contests, a sign of both how great this team can be offensively and how much work they still have on the other end.
“We put a lot of pressure on our offense to be perfect when we don’t consistently defend,” head coach Stephanie White said. “Again, this is on us as coaches. This is our responsibility. We’ve got to be disciplined the entire game. We’ve got to be disciplined every possession. We’re taking chances. We’re fouling shooters who are about to shoot tough shots. We’ve got breakdowns in coverages. We’ve got to find combinations of players and rotations that’s net efficiency can be good.
“We can’t wait to play defense in situations where we feel good and we’re making shots. It seems like we’re making shots and everything’s flowing and we’ve got energy on the defensive end, and when we’re not, we don’t. It’s got to be the other way around. The energy has to be dictated on that end of the floor and that’s a mindset.”
As dramatic and exciting as Friday’s fourth quarter was, the game as a whole highlighted where the Fever need to grow. No team wants to have to rely on “basketball heroics” to potentially win a game.
But it was also a sign of just how special Clark can be and how quickly she can deliver those heroics to try to save the Fever from defeat.
INDIANAPOLIS — For three quarters of Friday’s game against the Mystics, Caitlin Clark could hardly…
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#Portland #Fire #won #game #perfect">The Portland Fire just won their first game, and it was perfect
The Portland Fire’s roster doesn’t include many big-name WNBA players.
One of two expansion teams to join the league this season, their roster is headlined by strong role players like Bridget Carleton, Carle Leite, and Emily Engslter, players who have never been primary options in the WNBA, and fought tooth and nail to make it.
But on Tuesday night in Portland, as streamers inundated the stands, the roster’s relative name recognition didn’t matter.
Thanks to a Sarah Ashlee-Barker game-winning putback layup, the Fire defeated the New York Liberty 98-96, toppling a veteran squad that boasts stars like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.
Important disclaimer: the Liberty have not been healthy to begin the season; two of their most important players — Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally — are both sidelined. Still, few would have predicted that the Fire, who fell to the Chicago Sky on opening night, would come away with their first win of the season on Tuesday against.
Bridget Carleton did everything she could to ensure it would happen. The 28-year-old was selected No. 1 overall in the expansion draft, and subsequently signed a 3-year, $3.75 million maximum contract.
Some scoffed at the size of that deal — she’d never before averaged double-figures, and while she was a strong role player for the Minnesota Lynx, she appeared to be just that: a role player.
But, in Tuesday’s win, the Fire’s Carleton vision came to fruition. The Canadian sharpshooter tallied a career-high 26 points on 9-16 shooting, hitting 5 of 11 three-point attempts, while also racking up 4 steals. In her 33 minutes on the floor, the Fire outscored the Liberty by 12 points.
But the victory was far more than just Carleton’s doing.
The 22-year-old Carla Leite appears to be a rising star of her own. Leite showed flashes of potential in her rookie season on the Golden State Valkyries, but is already seeing more opportunities in Portland. She led the way with 21 points in the season opener, and followed that up with another 21-point performance on Tuesday, hitting 8 of 14 field goal attempts alongside 6 assists.
Leite’s most pivotal play came with just 27 seconds to spare, when she blew past Jonquel Jones for a clutch-time layup to tie up the ball game.
Then, it was Sarah Ashlee-Barker who quickly became a franchise hero; the second-year forward corralled Carleton’s missed three-point attempt, and beat the buzzer with the putback.
Immediately, Ashlee-Barker’s teammates piled on top of her in celebration, while the fans at Moda Center went berserk.
A Fire team that didn’t even have players just a few months ago had toppled one of the most talented squads in the WNBA.
And, the fire they played with on Tuesday night suggested it just might be the first of many big-time victories in their inaugural season.
The Portland Fire’s roster doesn’t include many big-name WNBA players.
One of two expansion teams to join the league this season, their roster is headlined by strong role players like Bridget Carleton, Carle Leite, and Emily Engslter, players who have never been primary options in the WNBA, and fought tooth and nail to make it.
But on Tuesday night in Portland, as streamers inundated the stands, the roster’s relative name recognition didn’t matter.
Thanks to a Sarah Ashlee-Barker game-winning putback layup, the Fire defeated the New York Liberty 98-96, toppling a veteran squad that boasts stars like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.
Important disclaimer: the Liberty have not been healthy to begin the season; two of their most important players — Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally — are both sidelined. Still, few would have predicted that the Fire, who fell to the Chicago Sky on opening night, would come away with their first win of the season on Tuesday against.
Bridget Carleton did everything she could to ensure it would happen. The 28-year-old was selected No. 1 overall in the expansion draft, and subsequently signed a 3-year, $3.75 million maximum contract.
Some scoffed at the size of that deal — she’d never before averaged double-figures, and while she was a strong role player for the Minnesota Lynx, she appeared to be just that: a role player.
But, in Tuesday’s win, the Fire’s Carleton vision came to fruition. The Canadian sharpshooter tallied a career-high 26 points on 9-16 shooting, hitting 5 of 11 three-point attempts, while also racking up 4 steals. In her 33 minutes on the floor, the Fire outscored the Liberty by 12 points.
But the victory was far more than just Carleton’s doing.
The 22-year-old Carla Leite appears to be a rising star of her own. Leite showed flashes of potential in her rookie season on the Golden State Valkyries, but is already seeing more opportunities in Portland. She led the way with 21 points in the season opener, and followed that up with another 21-point performance on Tuesday, hitting 8 of 14 field goal attempts alongside 6 assists.
Leite’s most pivotal play came with just 27 seconds to spare, when she blew past Jonquel Jones for a clutch-time layup to tie up the ball game.
Then, it was Sarah Ashlee-Barker who quickly became a franchise hero; the second-year forward corralled Carleton’s missed three-point attempt, and beat the buzzer with the putback.
Immediately, Ashlee-Barker’s teammates piled on top of her in celebration, while the fans at Moda Center went berserk.
A Fire team that didn’t even have players just a few months ago had toppled one of the most talented squads in the WNBA.
And, the fire they played with on Tuesday night suggested it just might be the first of many big-time victories in their inaugural season.
The Portland Fire’s roster doesn’t include many big-name WNBA players.
One of two expansion teams to join the league this season, their roster is headlined by strong role players like Bridget Carleton, Carle Leite, and Emily Engslter, players who have never been primary options in the WNBA, and fought tooth and nail to make it.
But on Tuesday night in Portland, as streamers inundated the stands, the roster’s relative name recognition didn’t matter.
Thanks to a Sarah Ashlee-Barker game-winning putback layup, the Fire defeated the New York Liberty 98-96, toppling a veteran squad that boasts stars like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.
Important disclaimer: the Liberty have not been healthy to begin the season; two of their most important players — Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally — are both sidelined. Still, few would have predicted that the Fire, who fell to the Chicago Sky on opening night, would come away with their first win of the season on Tuesday against.
Bridget Carleton did everything she could to ensure it would happen. The 28-year-old was selected No. 1 overall in the expansion draft, and subsequently signed a 3-year, $3.75 million maximum contract.
Some scoffed at the size of that deal — she’d never before averaged double-figures, and while she was a strong role player for the Minnesota Lynx, she appeared to be just that: a role player.
But, in Tuesday’s win, the Fire’s Carleton vision came to fruition. The Canadian sharpshooter tallied a career-high 26 points on 9-16 shooting, hitting 5 of 11 three-point attempts, while also racking up 4 steals. In her 33 minutes on the floor, the Fire outscored the Liberty by 12 points.
But the victory was far more than just Carleton’s doing.
The 22-year-old Carla Leite appears to be a rising star of her own. Leite showed flashes of potential in her rookie season on the Golden State Valkyries, but is already seeing more opportunities in Portland. She led the way with 21 points in the season opener, and followed that up with another 21-point performance on Tuesday, hitting 8 of 14 field goal attempts alongside 6 assists.
Leite’s most pivotal play came with just 27 seconds to spare, when she blew past Jonquel Jones for a clutch-time layup to tie up the ball game.
Then, it was Sarah Ashlee-Barker who quickly became a franchise hero; the second-year forward corralled Carleton’s missed three-point attempt, and beat the buzzer with the putback.
Immediately, Ashlee-Barker’s teammates piled on top of her in celebration, while the fans at Moda Center went berserk.
A Fire team that didn’t even have players just a few months ago had toppled one of the most talented squads in the WNBA.
And, the fire they played with on Tuesday night suggested it just might be the first of many big-time victories in their inaugural season.
The Portland Fire’s roster doesn’t include many big-name WNBA players.One of two expansion teams to…
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#WNBA #Rebel #edition #jersey #ranked #cool">Every WNBA ‘Rebel’ edition jersey, ranked by how cool they are
The start of the WNBA season is almost upon us, and with that in mind, it’s jersey release day around the league. This year the team’s are showing off their “Rebel Edition” uniforms, designed to evoke the culture and city built around the team. Some absolutely nailed the assignment — others, well, not so much.
Two new teams join the WNBA in 2026 with the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire adding to the ranks as expansion teams. That means big moments in franchise history with their jerseys being unveiled for the first time.
Let’s rank everyone in the WNBAs new look.
This isn’t just great by league standards, this is an unbelievably iconic jersey in any sport. The colorway is classic and just looks so good, but it’s the subtle rose pattern of the uniform that really puts this over the top.
Just a stunning fit. The lowercase bubble writing evokes the 70s in the best way, while the secondary logo of the “A” on the peach is just wonderful. These look great from a distance, but then you close in and see all the zip codes for Atlanta and it puts it over the top.
Another team that went with the 70s aesthetic, and for good reason. These Wings jerseys are so much better than their standard uniform, and helps evoke old Dallas Mavericks jerseys, but integrating the Wings’ colorway. Just so clean.
Really clean uniforms. The simple white and red with some small black accents looks great. A little piping around the neck could have set this off a little more, but the “Indy” logo is just great.
No. 5: Washington Mystics
I really do like the idea of the purple and midnight blue swirling to evoke that mystical, crystal ball vibe. Not sure how I feel about “Of Change” being under the word “District,” I don’t think that addition really does much to the jersey and clutters it up a little too much.
The word “Keesusk” means “Sun” in the native Mohegan language, and it’s really neat to see elements of indigenous people integrated into a jersey like this. The design work on the neck, arms, and legs really stands out, making this feel unique.
It’s … fine. I like the radiating pinstripes being a new way to throw linework on a jersey, but the font feels wrong for the vibe of the uniform overall. Would have like to see something that felt a little more crafted and bespoke.
The cat print on the sides is great along with the ear tufts being evoked in the letter work. The only downside to this jersey is the goofy lynx on the waistband, which really didn’t need to be on this uniform at all.
I’m okay with a wordmark not being symmetrical, but this one just really irks me. The color and design are both solid overall, but having the peak of “SKYTOWN” happening three letters in to a seven-letter word gets under my skin. I also think the term “Skytown” is a little too on the nose. Yes, we get you’re the Sky and the term for Chicago is Chi-town, but I didn’t need the pun.
Really torn on this one. I like the front of the uniform, including the weather-shifted look of the number and the off-kilter wording, but I’m still deciding on the photorealistic storm clouds on the side. I can’t decide if I really like them, or I hate them.
Zero inspiration. Yes, you got in the Vegas font … cool. You could ask anyone to design a new jersey for Vegas and get 20 cliched versions of this look.
No. 12: Golden State Valkyries
They took the uniform and put it in black with some geometric work. It’s fine, but doesn’t make me feel anything either good or bad.
This looks like the logo for a crypto company.
It’s difficult to branch out in your first year, but I really don’t understand what this evokes about Toronto at all. Basically, this looks like a normal jersey without anything special or unique. Didn’t pass the assignment.
No. 15: Los Angeles Sparks
The design is okay, but there’s nothing about this uniform that even feels like the Sparks anymore. It’s as if everything was stripped out of the franchise and handed over to the old New Orleans Pelicans. This really doesn’t work. If it’s inspired by “risk takers,” they should have played it safe.
The start of the WNBA season is almost upon us, and with that in mind, it’s jersey release day around the league. This year the team’s are showing off their “Rebel Edition” uniforms, designed to evoke the culture and city built around the team. Some absolutely nailed the assignment — others, well, not so much.
Two new teams join the WNBA in 2026 with the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire adding to the ranks as expansion teams. That means big moments in franchise history with their jerseys being unveiled for the first time.
Let’s rank everyone in the WNBAs new look.
This isn’t just great by league standards, this is an unbelievably iconic jersey in any sport. The colorway is classic and just looks so good, but it’s the subtle rose pattern of the uniform that really puts this over the top.
Just a stunning fit. The lowercase bubble writing evokes the 70s in the best way, while the secondary logo of the “A” on the peach is just wonderful. These look great from a distance, but then you close in and see all the zip codes for Atlanta and it puts it over the top.
Another team that went with the 70s aesthetic, and for good reason. These Wings jerseys are so much better than their standard uniform, and helps evoke old Dallas Mavericks jerseys, but integrating the Wings’ colorway. Just so clean.
Really clean uniforms. The simple white and red with some small black accents looks great. A little piping around the neck could have set this off a little more, but the “Indy” logo is just great.
No. 5: Washington Mystics
I really do like the idea of the purple and midnight blue swirling to evoke that mystical, crystal ball vibe. Not sure how I feel about “Of Change” being under the word “District,” I don’t think that addition really does much to the jersey and clutters it up a little too much.
The word “Keesusk” means “Sun” in the native Mohegan language, and it’s really neat to see elements of indigenous people integrated into a jersey like this. The design work on the neck, arms, and legs really stands out, making this feel unique.
It’s … fine. I like the radiating pinstripes being a new way to throw linework on a jersey, but the font feels wrong for the vibe of the uniform overall. Would have like to see something that felt a little more crafted and bespoke.
The cat print on the sides is great along with the ear tufts being evoked in the letter work. The only downside to this jersey is the goofy lynx on the waistband, which really didn’t need to be on this uniform at all.
I’m okay with a wordmark not being symmetrical, but this one just really irks me. The color and design are both solid overall, but having the peak of “SKYTOWN” happening three letters in to a seven-letter word gets under my skin. I also think the term “Skytown” is a little too on the nose. Yes, we get you’re the Sky and the term for Chicago is Chi-town, but I didn’t need the pun.
Really torn on this one. I like the front of the uniform, including the weather-shifted look of the number and the off-kilter wording, but I’m still deciding on the photorealistic storm clouds on the side. I can’t decide if I really like them, or I hate them.
Zero inspiration. Yes, you got in the Vegas font … cool. You could ask anyone to design a new jersey for Vegas and get 20 cliched versions of this look.
No. 12: Golden State Valkyries
They took the uniform and put it in black with some geometric work. It’s fine, but doesn’t make me feel anything either good or bad.
This looks like the logo for a crypto company.
It’s difficult to branch out in your first year, but I really don’t understand what this evokes about Toronto at all. Basically, this looks like a normal jersey without anything special or unique. Didn’t pass the assignment.
No. 15: Los Angeles Sparks
The design is okay, but there’s nothing about this uniform that even feels like the Sparks anymore. It’s as if everything was stripped out of the franchise and handed over to the old New Orleans Pelicans. This really doesn’t work. If it’s inspired by “risk takers,” they should have played it safe.
The start of the WNBA season is almost upon us, and with that in mind, it’s jersey release day around the league. This year the team’s are showing off their “Rebel Edition” uniforms, designed to evoke the culture and city built around the team. Some absolutely nailed the assignment — others, well, not so much.
Two new teams join the WNBA in 2026 with the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire adding to the ranks as expansion teams. That means big moments in franchise history with their jerseys being unveiled for the first time.
Let’s rank everyone in the WNBAs new look.
This isn’t just great by league standards, this is an unbelievably iconic jersey in any sport. The colorway is classic and just looks so good, but it’s the subtle rose pattern of the uniform that really puts this over the top.
Just a stunning fit. The lowercase bubble writing evokes the 70s in the best way, while the secondary logo of the “A” on the peach is just wonderful. These look great from a distance, but then you close in and see all the zip codes for Atlanta and it puts it over the top.
Another team that went with the 70s aesthetic, and for good reason. These Wings jerseys are so much better than their standard uniform, and helps evoke old Dallas Mavericks jerseys, but integrating the Wings’ colorway. Just so clean.
Really clean uniforms. The simple white and red with some small black accents looks great. A little piping around the neck could have set this off a little more, but the “Indy” logo is just great.
No. 5: Washington Mystics
I really do like the idea of the purple and midnight blue swirling to evoke that mystical, crystal ball vibe. Not sure how I feel about “Of Change” being under the word “District,” I don’t think that addition really does much to the jersey and clutters it up a little too much.
The word “Keesusk” means “Sun” in the native Mohegan language, and it’s really neat to see elements of indigenous people integrated into a jersey like this. The design work on the neck, arms, and legs really stands out, making this feel unique.
It’s … fine. I like the radiating pinstripes being a new way to throw linework on a jersey, but the font feels wrong for the vibe of the uniform overall. Would have like to see something that felt a little more crafted and bespoke.
The cat print on the sides is great along with the ear tufts being evoked in the letter work. The only downside to this jersey is the goofy lynx on the waistband, which really didn’t need to be on this uniform at all.
I’m okay with a wordmark not being symmetrical, but this one just really irks me. The color and design are both solid overall, but having the peak of “SKYTOWN” happening three letters in to a seven-letter word gets under my skin. I also think the term “Skytown” is a little too on the nose. Yes, we get you’re the Sky and the term for Chicago is Chi-town, but I didn’t need the pun.
Really torn on this one. I like the front of the uniform, including the weather-shifted look of the number and the off-kilter wording, but I’m still deciding on the photorealistic storm clouds on the side. I can’t decide if I really like them, or I hate them.
Zero inspiration. Yes, you got in the Vegas font … cool. You could ask anyone to design a new jersey for Vegas and get 20 cliched versions of this look.
No. 12: Golden State Valkyries
They took the uniform and put it in black with some geometric work. It’s fine, but doesn’t make me feel anything either good or bad.
This looks like the logo for a crypto company.
It’s difficult to branch out in your first year, but I really don’t understand what this evokes about Toronto at all. Basically, this looks like a normal jersey without anything special or unique. Didn’t pass the assignment.
No. 15: Los Angeles Sparks
The design is okay, but there’s nothing about this uniform that even feels like the Sparks anymore. It’s as if everything was stripped out of the franchise and handed over to the old New Orleans Pelicans. This really doesn’t work. If it’s inspired by “risk takers,” they should have played it safe.
The start of the WNBA season is almost upon us, and with that in mind,…
