100 Points and a League-Tying Start: The Fire Are ROLLING and Caitlin Clark Couldn't Stop Them

WHOA. If you thought the Portland Fire were just another expansion team, you were DEAD WRONG. They absolutely torched the Indiana Fever on Saturday, dropping a season-high 100 points in a runaway 100-84 win. And get this: they didn't just win big, they tied a league record for the best start by an expansion team! Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark had a nightmare of a game, scoring a season-low six points. Yeah, you read that right.

The Fire Are Bringing the HEAT to the League!

This Fire squad is seriously cooking! They hit a season-high 100 points, shot a sizzling 51.4% from the field, and absolutely suffocated the Fever on defense, holding them to just 41.4%. Remember that game against Atlanta where they had a season-high 28 turnovers? Forget about it! They cleaned up their act with only 12 turnovers against Indiana. This team is learning fast and it shows.

Let's talk about the stars of the show. Megan Gustafson exploded for a season-high 22 points in her first start of the year, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, including a clutch three-pointer. Carla Leite was everywhere with a double-double: 18 points and a career-high 12 assists. Emily Engstler wasn't far behind with her own double-double, adding 16 points and 10 boards. Bridget Carleton chipped in with 14 points, and Sarah Ashley Barker had 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists. They set the tone early with a massive 19-2 run in the first quarter, taking a 21-10 lead. Gustafson hit back-to-back three-point plays during that run, and Carleton sank a 3-pointer and a layup. Nyadiew Puoch's layup in the second quarter stretched the lead to 41-20, and they kept the pressure on, going into halftime up 50-37. The Fever never got closer than 13 points in the entire second half. Talk about dominant!

Caitlin Clark Had a NIGHTMARE, And The Fever Are Spiraling

On the flip side, the Fever are in a rough spot, losing their second straight game after a three-game winning streak. Their record is now 4-4, and the losses are starting to sting, especially when their previous three defeats were by a combined seven points. But the real story here has to be Caitlin Clark. Their leading scorer was absolutely stifled, held to a season-low six points on a brutal 1-of-7 shooting. She played only 22 minutes because of foul trouble, picking up her fifth foul in the final minute of the third quarter when the Fire had already built a 25-point lead. This follows her previous game against Golden State where she also had a season low of 16 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Aliyah Boston had a solid outing with 18 points and seven rebounds, and Kelsey Mitchell added 17 points and four assists, but it clearly wasn't enough to contend with Portland's onslaught.

This win for the Fire wasn't just big for their record, it was sweet revenge for a 90-73 loss they suffered against Indiana on May 20, a game Clark missed due to a back injury. It's clear the Fire brought the payback, and they brought it hard.

The Fire are now sitting pretty at 6-4, tying the 1998 Detroit Shock for the best start by an expansion team in league history. That's serious business, folks! The Toronto Tempo can match that 10-game start if they beat the New York Liberty next Wednesday, but for now, Portland owns a piece of that record. The Fever, though, need to figure things out fast. Losing two in a row, especially with their star struggling so much, means they've got some work to do before their next matchup. This is going to be an interesting season to watch!

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