The Portland Fire opened their season with a decisive 99-80 victory over the Toronto Tempo, a game that featured a flurry of lead changes and a dominant second-half performance.
Emily Engstler was the standout for Portland, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Carla Leite added 15 points and nine assists to help steer the team.
A tightly contested first half
The opening 15 minutes saw ten lead changes, and the sides were dead‑locked at 44-44 at the half‑time break, setting the stage for a second-half surge.
Portland pulled away in the third and fourth quarters, outscoring Toronto 55-36 after the break. Bridget Carleton, Megan Gustafson and Sarah Ashlee Barker all reached double figures, underscoring the depth of the Fire’s roster.
Toronto’s Marina Mabrey contributed 19 points and eight assists, and Kiki Rice matched her season high with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Nyara Sabally returned from a two-game absence due to a neck injury, while Portland’s Karlie Samuelson, still recovering from a foot injury, remained on the bench.
The win marks a promising start for the Fire, who will look to build on their early chemistry as the season progresses.