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Leite Lifts Portland Fire Past Toronto Tempo, Ending Skid

Halting Portland's five-game slide, the victory exposes Toronto's defensive and depth problems.

Overview

  • The Fire, which beat the Tempo on Thursday, won 97-83 as Carla Leite posted 27 points and 11 assists to snap Portland's five-game losing streak.
  • Leite drew fouls relentlessly and converted 15 of 17 free throws to sustain Portland's offense when shots from the floor were inconsistent.
  • Toronto fell to 10-21 and suffered its eighth straight loss as injuries and a thin bench left the Tempo short on rim protection and second-chance rebounds.
  • New acquisition Aneesah Morrow showed immediate impact off the bench with 11 points and offensive rebounds but is still early in her integration to address Toronto's glass problems.
  • Both expansion clubs continue to show growing pains on defense and the boards, with Portland getting a short-term morale boost and Toronto likely shifting focus toward player development and next-season fixes.