Portland Fire Triumphs Over Fever with Strong Performance

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — In a commanding display, Megan Gustafson scored 22 points as the Portland Fire secured a 100-84 victory against the Indiana Fever on Saturday evening. The Fire's defense effectively contained Caitlin Clark, limiting her to just six points throughout the match.

Alongside Gustafson, Carla Leite contributed significantly with 18 points and 12 assists, while Emily Engstler added 16 points and 10 rebounds, marking the first double-doubles for the expansion team. With this win, the Fire has now claimed four victories in their last five contests.

Aliyah Boston was the standout for the Fever, leading her team with 18 points and seven rebounds. Clark played for 22 minutes but struggled, shooting only 1 for 7 from the field, and found herself in foul trouble during the third quarter.

The Fire quickly established dominance, racing to a 29-15 lead after the opening quarter, with Gustafson scoring eight points. Portland maintained control in the second quarter, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Sarah Ashlee Barker that extended their lead to 44-26. At halftime, the Fire held a 50-37 advantage, which swelled to 25 points in the third period, culminating in another Barker 3-pointer that energized the home crowd. With the Fire leading 98-79 in the final quarter, coach Alex Sarama opted to rest most of his starters.