Portland Fire Defeats New York Liberty 81-74
Monday, May 25, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Barclays Center
Portland Fire 81, New York Liberty 74, 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 Portland Fire vs New York Liberty?
Portland Fire beat New York Liberty 81-74 at Barclays Center on May 25, 2026.
Who was favored in Portland Fire vs New York Liberty?
New York Liberty were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -470 (about 82% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup at Barclays Center, the Portland Fire triumphed over the New York Liberty with a final score of 81-74. This victory marked Portland's second win in their three-game series against New York this season, improving their head-to-head record to 2-1. The Fire's win is notable as it comes after a recent victory against the Toronto Tempo, showcasing their ability to build momentum despite a challenging season.
The New York Liberty entered the game with a record of 3-4, having lost their last two games, including a 91-76 defeat to the Dallas Wings just two days prior. In their last ten games, the Liberty have recorded a 4-6 record, averaging 84.9 points scored per game while allowing 86.7 points. Their home performance has been particularly struggling, with a home record of 1-4. In contrast, the Portland Fire, with a record of 4-3, have shown resilience, winning their last game against Toronto and averaging 84.2 points scored while allowing 90.2 points over their last eight games. Their away record stands at 1-2, indicating some challenges on the road.
In terms of injuries, the Liberty were without Satou Sabally due to a concussion, which impacted their lineup. The Fire faced a more significant injury crisis, missing Carla Leite, Frieda Buhner, Luisa Geiselsoder, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Sania Feagin, all of whom were out for various non-injury-related reasons or personal matters. This absence of key players added to the tension of the matchup, as both teams had to adapt to their missing personnel.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Liberty favored by 10.5 points, with a total set at 172.5. The odds reflected the expectations of the Liberty's home advantage despite their recent struggles. The Fire's moneyline was set at 360.0, indicating they were considered underdogs in this matchup.
As the game unfolded, the scoring was tight, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the contest. In the fourth quarter, Breanna Stewart made crucial free throws that brought the Fire to a narrow lead, while Marine Johannes responded with a three-pointer that kept the Liberty competitive. Bridget Carleton's free throws in the closing moments sealed the victory for Portland, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure.
Overall, the matchup highlighted the competitive nature of the WNBA, with both teams demonstrating their strengths and weaknesses. The Liberty will need to regroup and address their recent form, while the Fire will look to build on this victory as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NY -10.5 | 172.5 o -108 / u -112 | Portland Fire +360 · New York Liberty -470 |
Injury report
- Satou SaballyOutConcussionNew York Liberty
- Carla LeiteOutNot Injury RelatedPortland Fire
- Frieda BuhnerOutNot Injury RelatedPortland Fire
- Luisa GeiselsoderOutPersonalPortland Fire
- Sarah Ashlee BarkerOutKneePortland Fire
- Sania FeaginOutKneePortland Fire
Leaders
- PointsBreanna Stewart25New York Liberty
- AssistsMarine Johannes6New York Liberty
- ReboundsJonquel Jones11New York Liberty
- PointsCarla Leite18Portland Fire
- AssistsTeja Oblak4Portland Fire
- ReboundsEmily Engstler5Portland Fire
Recent form
New York Liberty
Last 10: 4-6Streak L284.9 scored · 86.7 allowed per game1-4 at home
- L76-91vs Dallas WingsMay 24
- L70-87vs Golden State ValkyriesMay 22
- W100-82at Portland FireMay 15
- L96-98at Portland FireMay 13
- 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
Portland Fire
Last 8: 3-5Streak W184.2 scored · 90.2 allowed per game1-2 away
- W99-80at Toronto TempoMay 23
- L73-90at Indiana FeverMay 20
- W83-82vs Connecticut SunMay 19
- L82-100vs New York LibertyMay 15
- W98-96vs New York LibertyMay 13
- L83-98vs Chicago SkyMay 10
- L75-85vs Los Angeles SparksMay 3
- L81-91at Seattle StormApr 30
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
Box score
| Stat | Portland Fire | New York Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-75 | 21-52 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 40 |
| Three-pointers | 9-26 | 8-24 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 33 |
| Free throws | 10-14 | 24-26 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 92 |
| Rebounds | 29 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 4 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 23 |
| Assists | 18 | 17 |
| Steals | 12 | 8 |
| Blocks | 6 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 19 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 23 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 26 |
| Fouls | 22 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 50 | 45 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter42-47Megan Gustafson makes layup (Teja Oblak assists)
- 3rd Quarter42-48Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter42-49Jonquel Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter44-49Megan Gustafson makes 2-foot layup (Teja Oblak assists)
- 3rd Quarter44-50Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter44-51Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 1
- 3rd Quarter44-53Han Xu makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter46-53Emily Engstler makes running layup
- 3rd Quarter46-55Breanna Stewart makes driving layup (Pauline Astier assists)
- 3rd Quarter47-55Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter47-56Rebecca Allen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter47-57Rebecca Allen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter49-57Emily Engstler makes 3-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter49-59Han Xu makes layup (Jonquel Jones assists)
- 4th Quarter51-59Bridget Carleton makes 2-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter53-59Carla Leite makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter55-59Teja Oblak makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter58-59Megan Gustafson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Sarah Ashlee Barker assists)
- 4th Quarter58-61Breanna Stewart makes 4-foot two point shot (Marine Johannes assists)
- 4th Quarter60-61Teja Oblak makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter60-63Pauline Astier makes driving layup (Jonquel Jones assists)
- 4th Quarter60-65Jonquel Jones makes layup (Marine Johannes assists)
- 4th Quarter62-65Sarah Ashlee Barker makes 3-foot layup (Bridget Carleton assists)
- 4th Quarter64-65Megan Gustafson makes layup (Emily Engstler assists)
- 4th Quarter67-65Sarah Ashlee Barker makes 24-foot three pointer
- 4th Quarter69-65Sarah Ashlee Barker makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot (Luisa Geiselsoder assists)
- 4th Quarter72-65Luisa Geiselsoder makes 23-foot three point jumper (Carla Leite assists)
- 4th Quarter72-66Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter72-67Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter72-68Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter72-69Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter74-69Carla Leite makes 3-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter74-70Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter74-71Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter77-71Carla Leite makes 25-foot three pointer
- 4th Quarter77-74Marine Johannes makes 24-foot three pointer (Pauline Astier assists)
- 4th Quarter78-74Bridget Carleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter79-74Bridget Carleton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter80-74Bridget Carleton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter81-74Bridget Carleton makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours New York Liberty, below favours Portland Fire.
Venue
- Barclays CenterBrooklyn, NY
- Attendance13881
- OfficialsMarcy Williams, Tyler Mirkovich, Clare Simmons
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WNBA rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Liberty Defeat Fire in WNBA ShowdownMay 14, 2026
- Portland Fire Edges New York Liberty in Thrilling FinishMay 12, 2026