Emily Engstler Sinks a Free Throw With 1.7 Seconds Left, and the WNBA Is Still Reeling

Alright, Seattle, listen up! If you missed the Portland Fire and Dallas Wings game last night, you absolutely blew it. Seriously, this was a thriller right down to the wire, and I'm still buzzing! Emily Engstler, with ice in her veins, stepped up and nailed a tie-breaking free throw with just 1.7 seconds left on the clock. The Fire snatched an 84-83 victory at home, finally extinguishing that brutal four-game losing streak they've been carrying. Talk about clutch!

Fire's Balanced Attack Snuffs Out Skid

This win wasn't just about Engstler's heroics, though. The Fire came out swinging with a seriously balanced offense. Bridget Carleton was an absolute force, leading the charge with 20 points, and get this: *five* of Portland's starters hit double figures! Megan Gustafson dropped 16 points, Engstler added 11 to her name, Carla Leite dished out 10 points and eight assists, and Sarah Ashlee Barker rounded it out with 10 points. That kind of spread-out scoring is tough to beat. The Fire, now 7-8 overall and 1-4 in the Commissioner's Cup, desperately needed this after stumbling through their last four outings. Meanwhile, the Wings, who came in at 8-5 and 3-2 in the Commissioner's Cup, were without their leading scorer Paige Bueckers, sidelined with a right ankle injury, and you just know that played a part in this nail-biter.

A Wild Ride: The Back-and-Forth Battle

Man, this game was a rollercoaster! Dallas definitely brought the heat, with Arike Ogunbowale putting up 22 points, Azzi Fudd adding 18, Aziaha James scoring 17, and Jessica Shepard grabbing 13 points and an insane 14 rebounds. The lead changed hands four times in the first quarter alone, with the Fire holding a slim 14-13 lead after 10 minutes. Portland then went on a 10-0 run, sparked by Carleton's three-pointers, to pull ahead 26-18. But Dallas kept fighting back. Luisa Geiselsoder dropped four straight points to give Portland a 57-52 lead late in the third, only for James to knot it up at 57. Carleton then beat the buzzer with a massive three-pointer, sending the Fire into the fourth up 63-61. The final quarter was pure chaos, with the score tied three times at 71, 73, and 76. Ogunbowale and Fudd hit back-to-back buckets, giving Dallas an 80-76 lead, but Carleton, being Carleton, immediately trimmed it to one with another three.

Engstler's Heroics Seal the Deal

The final minute felt like an eternity. Gustafson put Portland ahead 81-80 with a clutch layup at 22.5 seconds left. Then Fudd, always a threat, converted a three-point play to swing the lead back to Dallas. But Leite wasn't having it, driving for a layup to tie the game at 83 with just 11.6 seconds remaining. The tension was palpable! James missed a jumper for Dallas, setting the stage for Engstler. She got to the line, made one of two free throws to give Portland the 84-83 lead, and then everyone held their breath as Ogunbowale launched a three-pointer at the buzzer. It missed. Ballgame! What a performance from both squads, but especially the Fire. Snapping that four-game skid this way has to feel incredible for them. For Dallas, missing their star definitely hurt, and they'll be looking to regroup fast. This is the kind of basketball that gets you hyped, and it's a huge momentum swing for Portland moving forward!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.