Minnesota Lynx Rout Portland Fire in Record Defeat
The Rose City's expansion team fell by 33 - a franchise record - in a loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Following the Portland Fire’s sobering 107-74 loss tonight at the Minnesota Lynx, first year head coach Alex Sarama spoke bluntly.
“We were a step slow. We didn’t do the basics in terms of what we want in pick & roll, and most importantly with our transition. The leakouts really hurt, and we didn’t have an answer for that. Yeah, lots to work on from tonight. We’re going to move on and get ready for Seattle.”
Sarama’s words were brief, but incisive.
As a team, Portland shot only 40.6% from the field and 33% beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Minnesota shot a blistering 54.5% across the floor and 43.5% from long range, out-rebounded the expansion side 49 to 39, got to the free throw line more often (22 attempts versus just 11 for the Fire), forced 24 Portland fouls, and stole 14 Portland possessions. When the final buzzer sounded, Minnesota had seven players reach double-digit point totals, a threshold only two Portland shooters could reach: Carla Leite and Frieda Bühner, who each scored ten points.
Portland took an early lead on a game-opening Leite three point shot, then padded their advantage 6-2 on a Megan Gustafson trey with 9:18 remaining in the opening quarter. After buckets from rookie sensation Olivia Miles and veteran forward Nia Coffey, Minnesota seized the lead. They would never relinquish it. After one quarter, Portland trailed the home team 35-21. At halftime, they lagged behind 60-40. Hopes for a comeback fizzled out after the third quarter, which concluded with a long range strike from Belgian guard Antonio Delaere. With only ten minutes remaining, Minnesota led by twenty-six points.
From there, Portland called in their reserves. Rookies Serah Williams and the aforementioned Bühner saw expanded minutes, as did former Oregon guard Holly Winterburn, but the game had long since been decided. With four minutes left, Minnesota claimed a 98-68 advantage. Two minutes away from relief, a pair of free throws by former Portland expansion draft pick Maya Caldwell - now a reserve guard for the Lynx - pushed the deficit to 34. After the clock mercifully flashed all zeroes, Portland suffered their largest margin of defeat in franchise history, 107-74.
The Portland Fire will return to the Pacific Northwest this week, hosting their arch-rivals Seattle Storm Wednesday night at 7 PM PST.
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Matt Bagley is a professional sports journalist with a passion for women’s sports. Outside of work, he cherishes quality time with his birth family, his chosen family, and one very pesky house panther.
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