New York Liberty at Portland Fire

· Women's National Basketball Association

New York Liberty

2-1, 1-1 Away

Final
98 - 96

Portland Fire

1-1, 1-1 Home

Sarah Ashlee Barker makes putback before buzzer and the Fire beat the Liberty 98-96 for 1st win

Portland Fire earn first win with buzzer-beater putback

After New York was called for a three-second violation with 13.8 seconds left, Carleton's 3-point attempt went hard off the backboard without hitting the rim. But Barker battled for the rebound and put it back before her teammates piled on top of her in celebration.

Carla Leite added 21 points and six assists for Portland (1-1). Luisa Geiselsoder and Kamiah Smalls each scored 13 points and Barker finished with five points in 22 minutes off the bench.

All five starters for New York (2-1) scored in double figures. Rookie Pauline Astier scored a season-high 24 points and Marine Johannes added 18. Jonquel Jones finished with 17 points, Breanna Stewart had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 10 points

The teams combined for 28 made 3-pointers, with Carleton hitting one with just under three minutes left for a 94-91 lead. Then Johannes tied it at 94 with 1:54 left on an off-balance 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down.

New York was short-handed again. Sabrina Ionescu, who did not play due to a left foot injury, was seen before the game in an Oregon sweatshirt giving her former Duck coach Kelly Graves a hug.

Portland had another big crowd on hand after marking the second largest for a home opener in WNBA history with 19,335 on Saturday.

Up next New York stays in Portland to play the second game of a back-to-back on Thursday.

Regular Season Series

POR wins series 2-1

Recent Plays

4th 0.0	End of Game	96 - 98
4th 0.0	End of the 4th Quarter	96 - 98
4th 0.0	(00:00) [Liberty] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (REPLAY SUPPORTS CALL)	96 - 98
4th 0.0	Sarah Ashlee Barker makes two point shot	96 - 98
4th 1.4	Sarah Ashlee Barker offensive rebound	96 - 96

Statistics

NY		POR
33-62	FG	34-68
53	Field Goal %	50
13-28	3PT	15-33
46	Three Point %	45
17-18	FT	15-15
94	Free Throw %	100
31	Rebounds	26
8	Offensive Rebounds	8
23	Defensive Rebounds	18
23	Assists	15
7	Steals	8
3	Blocks	4
18	Turnovers	13
0	Team Turnovers	1
18	Total Turnovers	14
1	Technical Fouls	0
1	Total Technical Fouls	0
0	Flagrant Fouls	0
25	Points Conceded Off Turnovers	19
10	Fast Break Points	7
32	Points in Paint	34
16	Fouls	21
13	Largest Lead	4
14	Lead Changes	14
77	Percent Led	12

Game Information

Venue: Moda Center

Location: Portland, OR
Attendance: 12,386 · Capacity:

2025-26 Eastern Conference Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Atlanta	-	1	W2	0.8	4
Indiana	0.5	2	W3	0.6666667	4
Chicago	1.5	3	L2	0.5	3
Toronto	2	4	L2	0.42857143	3
New York	2	4	L3	0.42857143	3
Washington	2	3	L2	0.4	2
Connecticut	4.5	7	L2	0.125	1

2025-26 Western Conference Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Las Vegas	-	2	L1	0.6666667	4
Minnesota	-	2	W2	0.6666667	4
Golden State	-	2	W1	0.6666667	4
Dallas	0.5	3	W1	0.5714286	4
Portland	0.5	3	W2	0.5714286	4
Los Angeles	1	3	W2	0.5	3
Seattle	1.5	4	W2	0.42857143	3
Phoenix	2.5	5	L3	0.2857143	2