Who's Who in the Portland Fire - Portland Mercury

Portland Fire left home after an 83-82 win over the Connecticut Sun on May 18. On May 20 in Indianapolis, the team lost 90-73 to the Indiana Fever, with Aliyah Boston scoring 24 points and adding eight rebounds, two steals, and a block, while Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points and four assists. Caitlin Clark was ruled out before the game began. Portland still had contributors, including Bridget Carleton with 16 points and Sug Sutton with 14 points after being recently waived. The Fire next played Toronto on May 23, faced the New York Liberty on May 25, and returned home to host Connecticut on May 27. Carleton, an expansion draft first overall pick, led the team in minutes, points per game, and steals per game.

"The Fire's first road test on Wednesday, May 20, was in Indianapolis against the Indiana Fever, and it was one the team will probably want to forget. The Fire went down 90-73 to the Fever in a game that saw Indiana's Aliyah Boston net 24 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block, and Kelsey Mitchell rack up 21 points and four assists for their opponents. The Fever's guard Caitlin Clark was ruled out for the match just before it began."

"Despite the loss, the Fire still had their moments. Bridget Carleton put in 16 points for the team, and the recently-waived Sug Sutton (we'll get to that) added 14 points of her own. Coming up, the Fire will take on the Toronto Tempo in Toronto on Saturday, May 23, and meet the New York Liberty on their home turf on Monday, May 25, before returning home to once again host the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday, May 27."

"Carleton was the Fire's first overall pick during the team's expansion draft and also the first player the team officially signed at the beginning of WNBA free agency in April. She came onboard with a max deal, which is now $1.2 million for the 2026 season. The eight-year veteran has embraced the opportunity to be a leader on an expansion team, and her effort on the court is crystal clear."

"Carleton is leading the Fire in terms of minutes played (29.4), points per game (16.8), and steals per game (2.4). That's a big jump from her seven seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, where she averaged 6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds last season."

Read at Portland Mercury