Portland Fire at Phoenix Mercury
· Women's National Basketball AssociationCarla Leite helps Fire top Phoenix 88-85, spoiling celebration of former Mercury star Diana Taurasi
Leite had the final two baskets in a 6-0 run and the expansion Fire (15-20) moved in front 81-80 with 1:12 remaining. Portland's Emily Engstler and the Mercury's Kahleah Copper traded baskets before Katie Lou Samuelson hit the second of two foul shots with 20 seconds left to put the Fire up 84-82.
Bridget Carleton blocked a shot by Copper and grabbed the rebound with 12 seconds to go, then sank two free throws for a four-point lead after Copper fouled her. Alyssa Thomas buried a 3-pointer, but Carleton sank two free throws to preserve the win.
Leite shot 9 for 15 and added five assists. Megan DiLeo had 15 points.
DeWanna Bonner scored 23 to lead Phoenix (13-23). Copper totaled 19 points and seven rebounds. Thomas finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, falling one assist shy of a triple-double.
Bonner and Thomas both scored six points to guide Phoenix to a 22-18 lead after one quarter. Bonner had 14 points by halftime and the Mercury took a 42-36 lead into intermission.
Frieda Buhner and DiLeo sank 3-pointers late in the third quarter to get Portland within 64-61 heading to the fourth.
Phoenix retired the No. 3 jersey of Taurasi, the WNBA's career scoring leader with 10,646 points. She won three championships with the Mercury over 20 seasons.
Mercury: At Atlanta Dream on Saturday.
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Regular Season Series
PHX wins series 2-1
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 88 - 85 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 88 - 85 |
| 4th 0.1 |  |
Mercury offensive team rebound | 88 - 85 |
| 4th 0.7 | |
Sami Whitcomb misses 28-foot three point shot | 88 - 85 |
| 4th 5.5 |  |
Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2 | 88 - 85 |
Statistics
 POR |
 PHX |
|
|---|---|---|
| 32-71 | FG | 28-67 |
| 45 | Field Goal % | 42 |
| 10-37 | 3PT | 9-27 |
| 27 | Three Point % | 33 |
| 14-21 | FT | 20-25 |
| 67 | Free Throw % | 80 |
| 36 | Rebounds | 36 |
| 10 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| 26 | Defensive Rebounds | 29 |
| 15 | Assists | 18 |
| 6 | Steals | 5 |
| 4 | Blocks | 1 |
| 11 | Turnovers | 12 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 11 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 14 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 14 |
| 3 | Fast Break Points | 5 |
| 36 | Points in Paint | 36 |
| 23 | Fouls | 20 |
| 4 | Largest Lead | 9 |
| 6 | Lead Changes | 6 |
| 15 | Percent Led | 79 |
Game Information
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Attendance: 16,513 · Capacity:
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota |
- | 11 | W1 | 0.75 | 33 |
 Golden State |
1 | 12 | W1 | 0.72727275 | 32 |
 Las Vegas |
2 | 13 | W7 | 0.70454544 | 31 |
 Dallas |
6 | 17 | W1 | 0.6136364 | 27 |
 Portland |
16 | 27 | W1 | 0.38636363 | 17 |
 Los Angeles |
17 | 28 | L2 | 0.36363637 | 16 |
 Phoenix |
17 | 28 | L1 | 0.36363637 | 16 |
 Seattle |
25 | 36 | L5 | 0.18181819 | 8 |
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