Portland Fire Edges New York Liberty in Thrilling Finish
Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · Moda Center
Portland Fire 98, New York Liberty 96, final. Our WNBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won New York Liberty vs Portland Fire?
Portland Fire beat New York Liberty 98-96 at Moda Center on May 12, 2026.
Who was favored in New York Liberty vs Portland Fire?
New York Liberty were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -850 (about 89% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Portland Fire triumphed over the New York Liberty with a final score of 98-96 at the Moda Center. This victory not only marked a significant moment for the Fire but also extended their lead in the series against the Liberty, now holding a 2-1 advantage in their all-time meetings.
The Fire entered the game with a home record of 1-1 and had been struggling recently, having lost their last three games. Their most recent match on May 10 ended in an 83-98 defeat against the Chicago Sky. Over their last three games, they averaged 79.7 points while allowing 91.3 points, highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities. In contrast, the Liberty came into the game with a stronger away record of 2-1 and had won their last three matches, scoring an average of 83.3 points and allowing 80.6 points in their last ten games. Their most recent victory was a 98-93 win over the Washington Mystics on May 10.
The Fire's home performance has been less than stellar, with a home record of 0-2 in their last two games. They faced the Los Angeles Sparks on May 3, losing 75-85, and previously lost to the Seattle Storm on April 30 with a score of 81-91. The Liberty, on the other hand, have been more successful on the road, boasting an away record of 5-1 in their last six games.
In terms of injuries, the Fire were significantly impacted, missing key players including Carla Leite, Frieda Buhner, Luisa Geiselsoder, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Sania Feagin. The Liberty also had to contend with the absence of Satou Sabally due to a concussion. These injuries undoubtedly shaped the strategies and performances of both teams throughout the game.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored the Liberty, with a spread of 11.5 points in their favor and a money line of -850. The total for the game was set at 174.5, with odds of -108 for the over and -112 for the under. This context indicated a strong expectation for the Liberty to perform well, given their recent form and the Fire's struggles.
The game itself was characterized by a back-and-forth scoring battle, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. In the fourth quarter, the tension escalated as both teams fought for every point. The scoring plays included crucial free throws from Carla Leite that tied the game at 91-91, followed by a running jump shot from Bridget Carleton that gave the Fire a 94-91 lead. However, Marine Johannes quickly equalized for the Liberty, showcasing the intense competition.
As the game neared its conclusion, Jonquel Jones contributed to the Liberty's efforts with free throws, but the Fire managed to regain the lead thanks to a two-point shot from Sarah Ashlee Barker. Ultimately, the Fire's ability to capitalize on key moments in the final minutes secured their victory.
This thrilling finish not only highlights the competitive nature of the WNBA but also sets the stage for future matchups between these two teams. The Fire will look to build on this momentum, while the Liberty will aim to bounce back from this narrow defeat.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NY -11.5 | 174.5 o -108 / u -112 | New York Liberty -850 · Portland Fire +575 |
Injury report
- Carla LeiteOutNot Injury RelatedPortland Fire
- Frieda BuhnerOutNot Injury RelatedPortland Fire
- Luisa GeiselsoderOutPersonalPortland Fire
- Sarah Ashlee BarkerOutKneePortland Fire
- Sania FeaginOutKneePortland Fire
- Satou SaballyOutConcussionNew York Liberty
Leaders
- PointsBridget Carleton26Portland Fire
- AssistsCarla Leite6Portland Fire
- ReboundsLuisa Geiselsoder5Portland Fire
- PointsPauline Astier24New York Liberty
- AssistsMarine Johannes4New York Liberty
- ReboundsBreanna Stewart10New York Liberty
Recent form
Portland Fire
Last 3: 0-3Streak L379.7 scored · 91.3 allowed per game0-2 at home
- L83-98vs Chicago SkyMay 10
- L75-85vs Los Angeles SparksMay 3
- L81-91at Seattle StormApr 30
New York Liberty
Last 10: 7-3Streak W383.3 scored · 80.6 allowed per game5-1 away
- W98-93at Washington MysticsMay 10
- W106-75vs Connecticut SunMay 8
- W79-67at Connecticut SunMay 3
- L91-109vs Indiana FeverApr 25
- L73-79at Phoenix MercurySep 20
- L60-86vs Phoenix MercurySep 18
- W76-69at Phoenix MercurySep 14
- W91-86at Chicago SkySep 12
- W75-66vs Washington MysticsSep 9
- W84-76at Seattle StormSep 6
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | - | 14 | W1 | .650 | 26 |
| Indiana | - | 14 | W2 | .650 | 26 |
| New York | 2 | 16 | W1 | .600 | 24 |
| Washington | 2 | 16 | L1 | .600 | 24 |
| Chicago | 11 | 25 | L3 | .375 | 15 |
| Toronto | 15 | 29 | L4 | .275 | 11 |
| Connecticut | 16 | 30 | L3 | .250 | 10 |
| Minnesota | - | 9 | L2 | .775 | 31 |
| Golden State | 2 | 11 | W4 | .725 | 29 |
| Las Vegas | 4 | 13 | W3 | .675 | 27 |
| Dallas | 7 | 16 | W4 | .600 | 24 |
| Portland | 15 | 24 | L1 | .400 | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 16 | 25 | W2 | .375 | 15 |
| Phoenix | 17 | 26 | W1 | .350 | 14 |
| Seattle | 23 | 32 | L1 | .200 | 8 |
Box score
| Stat | New York Liberty | Portland Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 33-62 | 34-68 |
| Field goal % | 53 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 13-28 | 15-33 |
| Three-point % | 46 | 45 |
| Free throws | 17-18 | 15-15 |
| Free throw % | 94 | 100 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 26 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 18 |
| Assists | 23 | 15 |
| Steals | 7 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 25 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 34 |
| Fouls | 16 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 13 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 14 | 14 |
| Time in front | 77 | 12 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter64-62Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter65-62Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter68-62Rebekah Gardner makes 24-foot three point jumper (Julie Vanloo assists)
- 3rd Quarter68-63Frieda Buhner makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter68-64Frieda Buhner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter70-64Jonquel Jones makes layup (Julie Vanloo assists)
- 3rd Quarter70-65Megan Gustafson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter70-66Megan Gustafson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter72-66Rebekah Gardner makes 3-foot layup (Pauline Astier assists)
- 3rd Quarter72-68Carla Leite makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- 3rd Quarter72-70Bridget Carleton makes 4-foot two point shot
- 3rd Quarter75-70Rebekah Gardner makes 24-foot three point jumper (Betnijah Laney-Hamilton assists)
- 3rd Quarter77-70Breanna Stewart makes running layup (Pauline Astier assists)
- 4th Quarter77-73Bridget Carleton makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kamiah Smalls assists)
- 4th Quarter78-73Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter79-73Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter80-73Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter81-73Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter81-76Kamiah Smalls makes 24-foot three pointer
- 4th Quarter83-76Jonquel Jones makes 14-foot two point shot (Marine Johannes assists)
- 4th Quarter83-77Bridget Carleton makes free throw 1 of 3
- 4th Quarter83-78Bridget Carleton makes free throw 2 of 3
- 4th Quarter83-79Bridget Carleton makes free throw 3 of 3
- 4th Quarter83-81Haley Jones makes running layup
- 4th Quarter84-81Pauline Astier makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter86-81Breanna Stewart makes layup
- 4th Quarter86-84Kamiah Smalls makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Haley Jones assists)
- 4th Quarter89-84Julie Vanloo makes 24-foot three point jumper (Rebekah Gardner assists)
- 4th Quarter89-85Kamiah Smalls makes technical free throw
- 4th Quarter89-87Carla Leite makes 10-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter89-89Megan Gustafson makes 8-foot two point shot (Sarah Ashlee Barker assists)
- 4th Quarter91-89Breanna Stewart makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter91-90Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter91-91Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter91-94Bridget Carleton makes 25-foot running jump shot (Emily Engstler assists)
- 4th Quarter94-94Marine Johannes makes 25-foot driving floating jump shot
- 4th Quarter95-94Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter96-94Jonquel Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter96-96Carla Leite makes 2-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter96-98Sarah Ashlee Barker makes two point shot
Win probability
Above the line favours Portland Fire, below favours New York Liberty.
Venue
- Moda CenterPortland, OR
- Attendance12386
- OfficialsAmy Bonner, Randy Richardson, Ryan Johnson
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WNBA rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Portland Fire Defeats New York Liberty 81-74May 25, 2026
- Liberty Defeat Fire in WNBA ShowdownMay 14, 2026