The decisive moment
Portland set the tone before the first media timeout, grabbing the lead for good with 5:52 left in the opening quarter. From there the Fire steadily built their cushion, controlling tempo in a game that finished with 184 combined points. Indiana never found an answer once Portland's offense found its rhythm.
By the numbers
- Final: Indiana 84, Portland 100 (16-point margin)
- Megan Gustafson (POR): 22 PTS
- Carla Leite (POR): 18 PTS, 1 REB, 12 AST
- Emily Engstler (POR): 16 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST
- Aliyah Boston (IND): 18 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST
- Combined scoring: 184 points
Leite's 12 assists kept the ball moving and rewarded a balanced Portland attack, with three Fire players reaching at least 16 points.
What it means
This was a complete team performance for Portland, who shared the ball generously and converted at a high clip throughout. The Fire managed the win despite being without Karlie Samuelson, sidelined by a foot injury. For Indiana, Aliyah Boston's 18-point, seven-rebound effort offered a bright spot, but the Fever struggled to keep pace in a game where every possession seemed to produce points.
The 16-point final margin reflected a deficit Indiana faced almost from the opening minutes, leaving little room to mount a sustained run.
What to watch next
Portland will look to carry this offensive flow forward, with Leite's playmaking and Gustafson's interior scoring forming a promising one-two punch. Indiana, meanwhile, must tighten its defense and find more support around Boston to avoid another shootout slipping away.