Portland Fire Fend Off Dallas Wings 84-83
Bridget Carleton's six made threes - a career high - snapped Portland's four game losing streak.
Sitting down for a postgame press conference flanked by teammates Sarah Ashlee Barker and Megan Gustafson, Portland Fire top expansion draft pick Bridget Carleton - the team’s first marketable star - flashed a beaming grin.
Tonight the team’s Canadian star Carleton fired a career high six made three point shots, leading Portland past the Dallas Wings 84-83. The win snapped a four game losing streak.
While three point shots helped Portland seize the win, ironically they started frigidly cold beyond the arc. In the opening quarter, the Rose City’s expansion team missed six shots from distance, with only second year role players Luisa Geiselsöder and the aforementioned Barker swishing treys. Still, the Fire held on, trailing after only one point through ten minutes of action.
The second quarter saw Carleton’s career night begin to emerge. After receiving a lob from French point guard Carla Leite, Carleton shook past Dallas veteran Arike Ogunbowale on the left wing, and delivered a jaw-dropping step-back three point shot. Ninety seconds into the quarter, Portland held a one point advantage. A minute later, Leite tipped a loose ball to Sarah Ashlee Barker, who fed Emily Engstler in transition, who then found Carleton in quick succession. Left open on the right flank of the arc, Carleton pulled the trigger on another three pointer. With 7:19 remaining in the first half, the Fire led 26-18.
Portland stayed on top at halftime, 44-37, thanks to Carleton’s team high 11 points and 3-of-5 three point shooting rate. Her efforts were aided by Megan Gustafson, who excelled inside with 8 points thanks to a 50% field goal shooting clip. Repeatedly, Gustafson broke through the teeth of Dallas’ defense on pick & roll plays.
Dallas won the third quarter 24-19, slashing Portland’s lead to only 2 points entering the final frame, thanks to inspiring play from the veteran Ogunbowale, perimeter sniper Maddy Siegrist and rookie first overall draft pick Azzi Fudd, who combined for 9 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Portland earned their two-point edge in electric fashion. Moments after the Wings seized control on an Aziaha James layup, Carleton knocked down a buzzer-beater three, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
The fourth quarter was a no holds barred slugfest, as both teams jostled for the win. Tied at 68 with 6:30 to go, German rookie Frieda Bühner broke the deadlock with a twenty-six footer. Dallas quickly seized the lead, but Portland leveled the scoreline with 3:35 left, on a Gustafson low block floater as the shot clock expired.
With just 1:25 remaining, Dallas appeared to hold a commanding 80-76 advantage, on a close range basket by their former UConn star Fudd. The next Portland set changed everything, with Gustafson receiving an inbounds pass, only to tap it to the hot hand Carleton, who sank a turnaround twenty-seven foot jumper. At the one minute mark, Portland trailed 80-79. That deficit held until 22.5 remaining, as Leite one-hopped a pass inside to Gustafson, and the Spain international drilled a lead-seizing layup.
From there, heroics bordered on hysterics. First, Fudd roared back with an and-1. Then, the Fire tied it up again on a Leite layup inside. In the final seconds, the Wings’ rookie sensation Fudd fell to the floor - following strong contact from the Portland big Gustafson - but no foul was called. The ensuing scramble saw Engstler come away with the loose ball, only to be met harshly by Dallas forward Alysha Clark. The three-time WNBA champion Clark drew a whistle, Engstler swished one of two free throws, and Portland held on for the win.
The Fire’s 84-83 win bumps their overall record to 7-8, 10th overall in the WNBA standings and 6th in the Western Conference. Tonight’s win also marks Portland’s first victory in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup (1-4). The Rose City’s expansion team will next play Monday night at the Minnesota Lynx, with tip-off scheduled for 5 PM PST.
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Matt Bagley is a professional sportswriter and broadcaster 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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