The Portland Fire lead the WNBA in this key category in just their first season
After another thrilling, comeback win over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, the Fire (8-9) are now a WNBA-best 6-1 in clutch games — those separated by five points or less in the final five minutes.
There have been big shots by Sarah Ashlee Barker and Bridget Carleton, to be sure. But those around the team chalk the late-game success up to their culture, carried by an uncommon togetherness for an expansion side playing together for the first time.
“It’s remarkable,” Fire coach Alex Sarama said. “I’ve never seen a team like this, and it’s why it’s just such a joy to show up and get to have the pleasure of working with them every day.”
Sarama noted the Fire are also No. 1 in the WNBA in net defense in the fourth quarter. Locking up the opponent and providing near-constant pressure — often in the full-court, especially when they are down — is an integral piece of their identity.
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-fire/2026/06/in-just-their-first-year-the-portland-fire-lead-the-wnba-in-this-key-category.html?outputType=amp
= new reply since forum marked as read
