The WNBA welcomes a new star in critical moments

Leite Shines in Clutch Moments

Carla Leite requested isolation. Making a move off the dribble, the 5-foot-9 guard confidently bypassed her teammates. The barrier between the 22-year-old and the basket at Barclays Center? Just one fierce opponent.

Stewart is known for her exceptional defensive skills and is considered one of the most reliable defenders in the WNBA, standing tall at 6’4″. Yet, that didn’t deter Leite, who, despite her career 3-point shooting percentage of just 17.3%, managed to sink a crucial shot from beyond the arc.

With a smile, Leite recognized the significance of her play. That three-pointer put the Portland Fire ahead by six points against the New York Liberty, with only 14.4 seconds on the clock. Liberty guard Marin Johannes attempted to answer back with a three-pointer of her own, but it wasn’t enough to turn the game around.

This pull-up three was actually Leite’s second consecutive important basket within the game’s final moments during the Fire’s 81-74 triumph over the Liberty on Monday night. Just 25 seconds before, she had driven to the basket, boosting the Fire’s lead to five points with only 40 seconds remaining.

Monday’s performance certainly wasn’t her first show of bravery in clutch moments.

Just two weeks ago, Leite had a strong showing against the Liberty, helping the Fire to their first franchise victory. She scored a critical basket with 27.1 seconds left to tie the game, paving the way for Sarah Ashley Barker’s winning shot on May 12th.

This season, Leite has been impressive all around. On Monday, she led her team with 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting. The Fire outscored the Liberty by eight during her 22 minutes on the court.

Her stats reflect substantial growth: Leite’s points, rebounds, and assists per game have all more than doubled. Moving from an average of 7.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2 assists last season, she’s now at 15 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Additionally, her shooting efficiency has seen a notable rise, up by 5% from her rookie season.

The Fire holds a record of 3-2 in the five games the sophomore guard has played.

Of course, Leite isn’t the sole reason for the Fire’s decent start, being one of the two new teams this season. Bridget Carlton, the No. 1 pick in the expansion draft, is making waves with an average of 16.5 points per game, which is quite the jump from her previous role as a role player with the Minnesota Lynx. Key contributions also come from Emily Engslter, Megan Gustafson, Nyadiew Puoch, and Luisa Geiselsoder.

Ashley Barker has also stepped up significantly, contributing an average of 10.3 points off the bench. Besides her game-winning shot earlier this month, Barker made a crucial driving layup for an and-one in a close win over the Connecticut Sun. In the recent victory against the Liberty, she scored the go-ahead three-pointer with under four minutes remaining, which the Fire managed to hold onto.

However, since being left unprotected by the Golden State Valkyries after her rookie season, Leite has emerged as the primary scoring option for her team.