Historic Overtime Comeback
Portland Fire Overcome 17-Point Deficit to Defeat Golden State Valkyries in Overtime
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Key Points
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Bridget Carleton played despite being a game-time decision because of an ankle injury, while Portland guard Teja Oblak was ruled out with a knee injury and Holly Winterburn was listed as questionable with a back issue.
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Gabby Williams led Golden State with 17 points and tied the game at 77 with a layup late in regulation, forcing overtime after missing a potential winning jumper.
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Portland erased the early deficit by tying the game at 35 late in the first half, then entered halftime down only 40-37 and trailed 61-58 after three quarters.
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Golden State had won all three previous meetings with Portland before Tuesday’s finale, making the Fire’s overtime victory their first win over the Valkyries this season.
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The matchup drew the loudest home-crowd atmosphere of Portland’s season, with the Fire appearing to feed off the fans’ energy during the late comeback and overtime.
The Portland Fire overcame a stunning 17-0 deficit to stun the Golden State Valkyries 90-82 in overtime on Tuesday, capping their inaugural WNBA season with a 17-27 record. The comeback — the largest in franchise history — came in front of a sellout crowd at Moda Center and handed Golden State a loss that cost them the No. 1 playoff seed, KATU.
Bridget Carleton led Portland with 26 points despite being a game-time decision due to an ankle injury. Carla Leite sealed the victory by scoring the decisive basket and hitting a crucial three-point play in overtime, while Gabby Williams led Golden State with 17 points in the loss KATU.
Portland Erases 17-Point Hole Behind Home Crowd Energy
The Fire trailed by 17 early but slowly clawed back. By late in the first half, they had tied the game at 35. Portland entered halftime down just 40-37, then trailed only 61-58 after three quarters KATU. The momentum built as the crowd grew louder with each Portland bucket.
Late in regulation, Gabby Williams hit a layup to tie the game at 77, forcing overtime. Williams then missed a potential game-winning jumper, giving Portland their chance to complete the rally in the extra period KATU.
Valkyries Lose Playoff Seeding After Six-Game Winning Streak Ends
Golden State's loss snapped a six-game winning streak and cost the team the No. 1 playoff seed. The Valkyries had won all three previous meetings against Portland this season, making Tuesday's defeat especially costly KATU. Minnesota Lynx clinched the top seed instead.
Fire's Inaugural Season Shows Strong Fan Support Despite Record
Though Portland finished 17-27, already eliminated from playoff contention before Tuesday's game, the sellout crowd at Moda Center showed the franchise has built early fan momentum. General Manager Vanja Cernivec emphasized that the inaugural season was about more than wins and losses, KATU reported. The Fire believe stronger culture and fan base position them well for Year 2.
The WNBA is expanding from 15 teams in 2026 to 18 by 2030, with Portland's successful inaugural turnout demonstrating demand for women's professional basketball in the Pacific Northwest KATU.
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