The New York Liberty head back to the Moda Center for a quick rematch against the Portland Fire after one of the biggest surprises of the early WNBA season. Portland stunned New York 98-96 earlier this week, earning the first win in franchise history in dramatic fashion with a late putback finish that sent the home crowd into celebration mode. The result completely changed the feeling around this matchup. What initially looked like a routine victory for the Liberty has now become a much more competitive battle between a championship contender and an expansion team rapidly gaining confidence.
New York still enters the game as a heavy favorite, but injuries and defensive concerns continue to create problems for the Liberty rotation. Meanwhile, Portland suddenly looks far more dangerous offensively than many expected before the season started. The Fire played with confidence, pushed the tempo, and knocked down outside shots consistently in the previous meeting. Now the question becomes whether Portland can repeat that energy against a Liberty squad expected to respond aggressively after an embarrassing defeat.
Match Information
| Match | New York Liberty vs Portland Fire |
|---|---|
| Tournament | WNBA 2026 |
| Date | 14 May 2026 |
| Time | 10:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Moda Center |
| Broadcast | Amazon Prime Video |
Team Records
| Team | Record |
|---|---|
| New York Liberty | 2-1 |
| Portland Fire | 1-1 |
Portland enters this matchup with momentum after securing the first victory in franchise history.
Recent Match Results
New York Liberty Recent Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| May 13 | Portland Fire | Loss 96-98 |
| May 11 | Washington Mystics | Win 98-93 |
| May 9 | Connecticut Sun | Win 106-75 |
| May 4 | Connecticut Sun | Win 79-67 |
The Liberty offense continues to score at a high level, but the defense has shown signs of vulnerability.
Portland Fire Recent Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| May 13 | New York Liberty | Win 98-96 |
| May 10 | Chicago Sky | Loss 83-98 |
| May 4 | Los Angeles Sparks | Loss 75-85 |
| Apr 30 | Seattle Storm | Loss 81-91 |
Portland’s offense looked explosive in the previous matchup against New York.
Head-to-Head Record
| Meetings | Liberty Wins | Fire Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 |
Portland already proved it can compete with New York in front of its home fans.
Injury Report
New York Liberty
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Sabrina Ionescu | Out |
| Satou Sabally | Out |
| Rebecca Allen | Questionable |
| Marine Fauthoux | Out |
The Liberty continue to miss important offensive depth.
Portland Fire
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Sug Sutton | Questionable |
| Karlie Samuelson | Out |
| Carla Leite | Questionable |
Portland could still have some uncertainty in the backcourt rotation.
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Probable Starting Lineups
New York Liberty
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| G | Pauline Astier |
| G | Marine Johannes |
| F | Breanna Stewart |
| F | Jonquel Jones |
| C | Han Xu |
Portland Fire
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| G | Carla Leite |
| G | Bridget Carleton |
| F | Sarah Ashlee Barker |
| F | Luisa Geiselsoder |
| C | DeYona Gaston |
Portland’s confidence should be much higher entering this rematch.
Players to Watch
New York Liberty
| Player | Key Impact |
|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | Primary scorer |
| Jonquel Jones | Rebounding and interior defense |
| Marine Johannes | Perimeter shooting |
| Han Xu | Size advantage |
Portland Fire
| Player | Key Impact |
|---|---|
| Bridget Carleton | Outside shooting |
| Carla Leite | Playmaking |
| Sarah Ashlee Barker | Clutch scoring |
| Luisa Geiselsoder | Interior support |
Several Portland players stepped up during the upset victory.
Key Player Stats
| Player | Recent Performance |
|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | 1-for-10 from three this season |
| Bridget Carleton | Combined 47 points with Leite last game |
| Carla Leite | Major scoring role in previous matchup |
| Jonquel Jones | Strong inside presence |
| Sarah Ashlee Barker | Game-winning putback vs Liberty |
Portland’s guard play created major problems for New York’s defense.
Team Comparison
| Category | Liberty | Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive Rating | Elite | Improving |
| Defensive Form | Inconsistent | Weak |
| Rebounding | Average | Competitive |
| Three-Point Shooting | Strong | Hot form |
| Bench Depth | Thin | Improving |
New York still has more talent overall, but Portland’s energy level has changed this matchup completely.
Betting Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spread | Liberty -11.5 |
| Total | 176.5 |
| Moneyline | Liberty Heavy Favorite |
The spread remains large despite Portland winning the previous game.
Best Bets for Liberty vs Fire
| Market | Pick |
|---|---|
| Spread | Fire +11.5 |
| Total | Over 176.5 |
| Player Prop | Breanna Stewart Under 0.5 Three-Pointers |
| First Quarter | Over 43.5 Points |
| Team Total | Fire Over 82 Points |
Another high-scoring matchup looks very possible in this rematch.
Match Preview and Analysis
Portland completely changed the conversation around this series with its dramatic victory earlier in the week. The Fire played fearlessly, attacked in transition, and shot the ball confidently from deep. Most importantly, they showed they could keep pace offensively with one of the best teams in the league.
New York still has championship-level talent led by Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, but the absence of Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally continues to limit the team offensively. The Liberty no longer have the same depth or perimeter creation that made them dominant earlier.
The biggest issue for New York has been defense and rebounding. Opponents have consistently created second-chance opportunities against the Liberty, and Portland capitalized on that weakness in the last game. The Fire also benefited from tremendous energy inside the Moda Center, and the crowd atmosphere should be even stronger after the franchise’s first-ever win.
Breanna Stewart remains the key player to watch, but her outside shooting has not looked sharp to begin the season. Most of her scoring damage is coming inside the arc and through transition opportunities. Meanwhile, Portland’s confidence from the perimeter continues growing with Bridget Carleton and Carla Leite leading the offense.
This game could once again become an up-tempo offensive battle. Both teams are capable of scoring quickly, and Portland now believes it can run with New York offensively for four quarters.
Predicted Score
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| New York Liberty | 94 |
| Portland Fire | 87 |
New York should play with much more urgency after losing the previous matchup, but Portland has already shown it is capable of staying competitive against elite teams. The Fire are playing with confidence, their crowd is fully behind them, and their outside shooting has become a major weapon. The Liberty still have enough talent to bounce back and secure the win, but covering a large spread on the road without several key players may not be easy. Expect another entertaining, high-scoring game with Portland keeping things competitive deep into the fourth quarter.
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