The 1.7 Seconds That Saw Portland Snap Their Skid, and Nobody in the League Is Ready For How Wild It Was

Holy smokes, you guys. If you missed the Portland Fire taking on the Dallas Wings last night, you missed an absolute barn burner! This game went down to the wire, with Emily Engstler hitting a clutch free throw with just 1.7 seconds left on the clock to give the Fire an 84-83 win. Talk about high drama, especially when you consider this victory snapped a brutal four-game losing streak for Portland. What a way to get back in the win column, right?

Bridget Carleton Went Off, But Dallas Had Answers

The Fire didn't just stumble into this win, they fought for it. Bridget Carleton was on fire, leading the team with 20 points. Seriously, five starters hit double figures for Portland, which is exactly the kind of balanced attack you love to see. Megan Gustafson added 16, Engstler had 11, and both Carla Leite and Sarah Ashlee Barker chipped in 10 points each. Leite also dished out eight assists, showing off that playmaking vision. Things were tight early on, with the lead changing hands four times in the first quarter before Portland edged out a 14-13 lead. Carleton then caught fire with a couple of 3-pointers, bookending a 10-0 run that put the Fire up 26-18. Dallas, who were playing without their leading scorer Paige Bueckers due to a right ankle injury, kept fighting back. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 22 points, while Azzi Fudd had 18, Aziaha James scored 17, and Jessica Shepard put up a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Still, Portland held a decent 44-37 lead at halftime.

Fourth Quarter Chaos and the Final Buzzer Beat

The second half was a absolute rollercoaster. Luisa Geiselsoder dropped four straight points late in the third to give Portland a 57-52 cushion, but James answered right back, pulling Dallas even at 57. The Wings even took a one-point lead before Carleton, of course, drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Portland a 63-61 lead heading into the fourth. You just knew this one was going to be decided in the final seconds! The fourth quarter was pure madness. Engstler started the scoring with a layup, but Ogunbowale and Shepard pushed back, tying it at 68. Then it was tied again at 71, 73, and 76. Seriously, it was that close! Ogunbowale and Fudd hit back-to-back buckets, giving Dallas an 80-76 lead, but Carleton, the hero she is, hit another three to trim the lead to one. Gustafson put Portland ahead 81-80 with just 22.5 seconds left. Fudd converted a three-point play for the Wings, but Leite answered with a layup to tie the game at 83 with 11.6 seconds remaining. James missed a jumper, Engstler got to the line, and she hit one of two free throws to put Portland up by one. Ogunbowale had a chance at the buzzer, but her 3-pointer missed, sealing the incredible victory for the Fire. What a win for Portland, bringing their record to 7-8 overall and 1-4 in the Commissioner's Cup. Dallas, despite the loss, still holds a strong 8-5 record, 3-2 in the Cup. This kind of game is exactly why we love sports, right? Pure grit, clutch moments, and an insane finish. You gotta wonder how this dramatic victory impacts the Fire's momentum going forward, and if the Wings will rebound quickly after such a heartbreaking finish.

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