Overview
- Sutton’s runner with 22.6 seconds left sealed Monday’s 83-82 home win, followed by two Bridget Carleton free throws before Connecticut’s last heave fell short.
- Portland spread the scoring with five players in double figures, led by Sarah Ashlee Barker and Carleton with 18 each, while playing without Carla Leite and Kamiah Smalls and losing Megan Gustafson during the game.
- The Fire leaned on pressure principles that forced 17 Sun turnovers and generated 27 points off those mistakes, which coach Alex Sarama said is the source of their confidence.
- Connecticut dropped to 0-5 after 11-for-20 free-throw shooting and the turnover issues, with Brittney Griner scoring 16 and sitting one point from 6,000 career points.
- Portland now opens its first road trip starting Wednesday at Indiana after drawing 12,010 fans at the Moda Center who gave the new franchise a clear home-court lift.