The Portland Fire built an early advantage and kept the Washington Mystics at bay Thursday night at a sold arena in the nation’s capital, winning 75-56. Portland’s balanced attack and stout defense put the Mystics on their heels, while a first-time starter injected energy in transition.
Early surge sets tone
Portland jumped to a quick lead in the opening quarter, fueled by three early 3-pointers from Frieda Buhner and a string of efficient finishes. Carla Leite punctuated the quarter with a mid-range jumper that made it 26-13 late in the period and finished as the game’s top scorer for Portland with 14 points.
The Fire never relinquished control after the fast start. With the margin stretched to 20 points before halftime, Portland cruised the remainder of the way, relying on strong team defense and high-percentage scoring.
Impact performances
- Carla Leite: team-high 14 points, key early jumpers
- Serah Williams: 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting in her first professional start; provided a spark with a steal and a fastbreak feed
- Frieda Buhner: three 3-pointers in the first half, finished with 9 points
Williams, making her initial pro start, created momentum with a steal that led to a Leite layup late in the first quarter and converted a late first-half layup to widen the lead to 20. Her efficient night — 5 of 6 from the floor (83.3%) — underscored Portland’s depth.
Defense carried the night
Portland’s defense limited the Mystics to 19 of 65 shooting (29.2%) overall and just 2 of 21 (9.5%) from beyond the arc. That defensive performance helped the Fire hold Washington to 56 points, their lowest total of the game.
| Team | Score | Notable stat |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Fire | 75 | Held Mystics to 29.2% shooting |
| Washington Mystics | 56 | 2-for-21 on 3s (9.5%) |
The victory moved Portland to 11-14 on the season and closed the gap in the playoff hunt, pulling them within two games of Washington for the final spot. Portland concludes a five-game road trip Saturday with a 5 p.m. tipoff at first-place Minnesota, which entered the night at 19-6.
For Washington, the loss exposed shooting struggles and left questions about consistency as the regular season reaches its midpoint. For Portland, the combination of timely shooting, energetic bench play and a lockdown defensive night made this an encouraging result for a team trying to climb back into contention.
Reporting from Washington, D.C.
