The 2026 season is just two games old and already drawing the crowd with exciting gameplay and crazy finishes. While the expansion team, the Portland Fire, set a record in its very first game in the WNBA, the franchise doubled the joy with its first-ever victory over an established contender, the New York Liberty.
The underdogs matched the Liberty team’s offensive play and, in the closing moment, won the game with a put-back basket from Sarah Ashlee Barker. Fans react to the historic win on social media.
Fans React To Portland Fire’s Historic WNBA Win
The Portland franchise returned to the region after over two decades. While fans were excited for the WNBA team in the city, former player and Rookie of the Year winner Jackie Stiles expressed excitement and closure over the Fire’s return.
The roster did well in the very first game and showed their capabilities with some gutsy gameplay. In the second game, against the former champions, the New York Liberty, the team received massive crowd support and pounced on the opportunity in the closing seconds to seal the victory. Barker’s offensive rebound and basket handed them their first win.
WNBA’s newest expansion team Portland Fire just beat the Liberty at the buzzer. You can’t make this up. pic.twitter.com/N3Ct2QnMQA
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 13, 2026
Fans also reacted to the ‘crazy finish’ to the game, as the expansion team recorded a massive win, boosting their confidence in the league.
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A fan wrote, “That was a hell of a game winner. Nothing but backboard.”
That was a hell of a game winner. Nothing but backboard.
— RealEnfuegoMMA (@RealEnfuegoMMA) May 13, 2026
One fan added, “Are we just going to ignore that crowd pop??”
Are we just going to ignore that crowd pop??
— paxton (@Paxton2324) May 13, 2026
Another fan said, “You can’t make this up because it literally happened.”
You can’t make this up because it literally happened. It’s fucking basketball. Go Fire. Touch grass.
— Bexxx (@ibecker4) May 13, 2026
One fan mentioned, “Pure magic.”
Pure magic. If you know anything about Portland and how it supports women's pro sports, you're not surprised, only stoked that this type of atmosphere exists for the Fire. They're going to be rabidly supported in Portland. Love to see it!!! This is so cool.
— Retric (@retricrock) May 13, 2026
Another fan commented, “Bro that crowd pop is insane?!?! Dawg the WNBA has came a LONG way.”
Bro that crowd pop is insane?!?! Dawg the WNBA has came a LONG way😭🔥
— Meech Jennings 🥀 (@SteelCityMeech) May 13, 2026
With that win, the newly appointed coach recorded his first win in the WNBA and called “Portland Fire 101.” The game winner, Barker, also reacted to the ‘messy’ situation and called the shot a ‘god wink’.
Sarah Ashlee Barker Reacts After Game-Winner For Portland Fire
Selected via the expansion draft, Barker finished with only five points off the bench, but her game-winner will remain in the history books of the franchise.
In the post-game interview, she described the moment afterward as “surreal,” saying instinct simply took over once the rebound bounced her direction. “I just saw the ball go to the side, and I knew I had to crash,” Barker said.
“crash and jam”
— Portland Fire (@theportlandfire) May 13, 2026
Sarah Ashlee Barker speaks on her buzzer beater shot. pic.twitter.com/TD005CcXCV
Bridget Carleton led the team with 26 points while her back-court partner Carla Leite added 21 points in a highly competitive close game. It’s also important to note that the side shot 100% from the free-throw line netted all 15 attempts from the charity line.