By: Jennifer Portee
5/19/2026
On a night where every possession counts, Sug Sutton stepped into the moment and didn’t blink.
With just 22.6 seconds left on the clock, Sutton sliced through the defense and calmly floated in the go-ahead bucket, lifting the Portland Fire to a 83–82 win over the Connecticut Sun on Monday night.
Portland didn’t rely on just one player they stayed calm, trusted each other, and made the right plays when it mattered. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Bridget Carleton each had 18 points, while Sutton added 12, including the most important two of the night. Emily Engstler chipped in 15, and Nyadiew Puoch contributed 10, giving the Fire just enough to even their record at 2–2.
But this one didn’t come easy.
Connecticut controlled stretches of the game, heading into halftime with a 42–38 lead after locking Portland down to just 13 points in the second quarter. The Sun were efficient early, shooting 58% from the field and dictating tempo, while Portland struggled to find its rhythm from deep, hitting just 3 of 13 from beyond the arc.
Still, the Fire stayed in the game and when the fourth quarter arrived, the game turned into a back-and-forth chess match.
After Sutton’s go-ahead floater gave Portland an 81–79 lead, Connecticut had opportunities to respond but couldn’t capitalize. Carleton then stepped to the line with 9.7 seconds left and calmly knocked down two free throws to expand the lead to four, which was critical in the final seconds.
The Sun weren’t done fighting. Rookie Charlisse Leger-Walker drilled a clutch three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to one. A controversial offensive foul on Portland gave Connecticut one last crack at it, but Aneesah Morrow’s desperation lob from halfcourt spun off the rim as the buzzer rang, sending the Sun back to the bench empty handed.
Despite the loss, Connecticut showed flashes of promise. Brittney Griner led the way with 16 points, inching closer to the 6,000-point milestone in her career. Morrow, Hailey Van Lith, and Aaliyah Edwards each added 12, while Leger-Walker finished with 10 in a great rookie performance. Yet at 0–5, the Sun are still searching for their first win, and consistency to match their talent.
For Portland, the takeaway is clear: resilience travels. Even on a night where the shots didn’t always fall, execution and composure when the game mattered most made the difference.
Both teams are back in action Wednesday, with Connecticut continuing its road trip in Seattle and Portland heading to Indiana each looking to build, adjust, and define who they’ll be this season.