Portland Fire’s Surprising Victory

The Portland Fire’s roster isn’t packed with well-known WNBA stars.

As one of two expansion teams in the league this season, their lineup includes solid role players like Bridget Carleton, Carl Leite, and Emily Ensulter. While they may not have been the first picks in the WNBA, they’ve worked hard to earn their spots.

However, on Tuesday night in Portland, the lack of big names didn’t seem to matter, as the fans were buzzing with excitement.

Thanks to crucial putback layups from Sarah Ashley and Barker, the Fire edged out the New York Liberty with a close score of 98-96, defeating a seasoned team that boasts stars like Brianna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.

It’s worth noting that the Liberty started the season a bit off. Key players Sabrina Ionescu and Sato Sabally were missing. But still, not many folks expected the Fire to snag their first win against the Sky after losing their opener.

Bridget Carleton put in a remarkable effort to ensure that victory. Selected first overall in the expansion draft, she signed a three-year contract valued at up to $3.75 million.

Some might have raised their eyebrows at that kind of deal. After all, Carleton had never averaged double digits in scoring before, and while she was a decent role player for the Minnesota Lynx, she sort of fit into that category.

But Tuesday’s win certainly proved her critics wrong. The Canadian sharpshooter scored a career-high of 26 points, shooting 9-for-16, hitting 5 out of 11 three-pointers, and also managed four steals. In the 33 minutes she played, the Fire outscored the Liberty by 12 points.

But it wasn’t just about Carleton’s performance.

At only 22, Carla Leite is emerging as a player to watch. She had some bright moments during her rookie season with the Golden State Valkyries but is finding more opportunities in Portland. Leite scored 21 points in the opener and matched that on Tuesday, shooting 8-for-14 and dishing out six assists.

Her most crucial play came in the final seconds when she completed a timely layup against Jonquel Jones, tying the game.

And then there was Sarah Ashley Barker, who quickly became the hero of the night. After Carleton missed a three-point shot, Barker grabbed the rebound and scored just as the buzzer went off.

The Moda Center crowd erupted, filled with cheers for Barker as her teammates quickly rushed to celebrate.

This was a Fire team that hadn’t even had a player just a few months back, yet they managed to triumph over one of the WNBA’s strongest squads.

The spirited play they showcased on Tuesday hinted at what could be the start of many more wins in this inaugural season.