Bridget Carleton and Carla Leite bring Portland all the way back in 90-82 overtime win over Golden State

Seventeen straight, and still not enough

Golden State spent the opening minutes looking sharp and organized. Veronica Burton opened the scoring with a 26-foot three at 7:43 of the first quarter, Cecilia Zandalasini followed with a long jumper, and the Valkyries kept stacking clean possessions until the game was suddenly 17-0. Portland did not score until Bridget Carleton hit from deep with 3:20 left in the quarter. By then, Kayla Thornton had already scored inside and out, Kiah Stokes had finished at the rim, and Gabby Williams had settled into the midrange.

That first stretch remains the strangest part of the final score. Golden State won the first quarter 24-10, carried a 17-point largest lead for the night, and got the balanced start coaches usually want from a road team. Burton, in particular, set the tone without forcing the offense, finishing with 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Thornton added 11 points and seven rebounds, Williams scored 17, and the Valkyries had enough playmaking to produce 22 assists on 26 made field goals.

But Portland's response began before halftime, and it came from several places at once. Jordan Harrison's passing kept igniting it; she finished with 10 assists in just 16 minutes, and several came in the second quarter as Carleton, Megan DiLeo and Frieda Buhner chipped away at the gap. Carleton's shooting dragged the Fire back into range, DiLeo finished repeatedly around the basket, and Emily Engstler added timely free throws. Portland moved ahead 37-35 with seven seconds left in the half before Golden State stole back the edge, closing with Burton free throws, Burton's three-pointer and a Janelle Salaun free throw for a 40-37 lead at the break.

Carleton kept summoning another answer

The third quarter turned into a test of whose big shot would mean more. Carleton kept tying the game, first at 40-40 just 13 seconds into the half, then again at 46-46 on another three, and once more she cut into the lead with a third-quarter barrage that made every Golden State push feel temporary. She finished with 26 points on 9-of-21 shooting and 5-of-14 from beyond the arc, and Portland needed nearly all of it because the Valkyries still had counters. Salaun scored twice in the middle of the period, Williams found her pull-up game, and Golden State carried a 61-58 lead into the fourth.

What stands out in the fourth is how often the lead felt claimed and then revoked. Portland nudged ahead 64-63 on Buhner's turnaround and 66-63 on Carleton's basket, but Golden State answered through Tiffany Hayes, Burton at the line, Williams from three, Kaila Charles at the rim and Hayes again from long range. When Hayes made it 75-68 with 2:13 left, the Valkyries had built the kind of late cushion that should have been enough in a game this rugged.

Instead, Portland's closing sequence in regulation was its best basketball of the night. Carla Leite hit two free throws, Carleton got to the rim, DiLeo finished another layup, and then Leite supplied the biggest swing before overtime: a driving floater at 37.8 seconds plus the free throw that put Portland ahead 77-75. Golden State still found one more answer through Williams, whose layup with 29.5 seconds left tied it at 77-77, but by then the shape of the game had changed. Portland was no longer chasing the scoreboard; it was controlling the terms of the finish.

Our take: overtime belonged to the line

Overtime was short, tense and unforgiving, and Portland handled it better. Williams opened the extra period with two free throws, Carleton matched with two of her own, Thornton briefly restored the Valkyries' edge with a three for 82-79, and Charisma Osborne immediately erased that margin with a tying three at 2:58. From there, Portland owned the last word. Leite drove for the go-ahead layup, then hit a step-back jumper at 26.5 seconds and completed the extra free throw. A technical free throw by Carleton and two more from Engstler finished the scoring. Golden State did not score again after Thornton's shot.

The numbers explain why the comeback held. Portland shot only 39.2 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from three, so this was not a night of easy offense. It was a night of cleaner margins. The Fire went 22-of-23 at the line; the Valkyries went 22-of-30. Portland committed 10 total turnovers; Golden State had 14. Portland also made 10 three-pointers to Golden State's eight. In a game that was tied after regulation and still level at 82-82 in overtime, those are not side details. They are the result.

For Portland, the improvement point is obvious because the scoreboard screamed it early: another start like a 17-0 deficit is too much to keep surviving, especially after a 10-point first quarter. For Golden State, the correction is just as plain. The Valkyries actually rebounded better, led most of the game and had the ball movement to generate 22 assists, yet too many fouls and too many missed free throws let the lead leak away. When the opponent shoots 22-of-23 on free throws and the final margin is eight in overtime, discipline becomes more than a footnote. It becomes the game.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 7:43

   Veronica Burton makes 26-foot three point jumper (Cecilia Zandalasini assists)

2. 1st Quarter · 7:18

   Cecilia Zandalasini makes 26-foot running jump shot (Veronica Burton assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 6:08

   Kayla Thornton makes 15-foot jumper (Gabby Williams assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 5:39

   Kayla Thornton makes 22-foot three point jumper (Cecilia Zandalasini assists)

5. 1st Quarter · 5:04

   Kiah Stokes makes driving layup (Veronica Burton assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 4:35

   Gabby Williams makes 13-foot pullup jump shot

7. 1st Quarter · 3:58

   Kayla Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2

8. 1st Quarter · 3:32

   Janelle Salaun makes free throw 1 of 2

9. 1st Quarter · 3:20

   Bridget Carleton makes 22-foot three point jumper (Jordan Harrison assists)

10. 1st Quarter · 2:43

    Charisma Osborne makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordan Harrison assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 2:11

    Janelle Salaun makes 26-foot three pointer (Veronica Burton assists)

12. 1st Quarter · 1:55

    Jordan Harrison makes driving layup

13. 1st Quarter · 1:40

    Laeticia Amihere makes 4-foot two point shot (Janelle Salaun assists)

14. 1st Quarter · 1:12

    Kaila Charles makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot (Veronica Burton assists)

15. 1st Quarter · 1.0

    Bridget Carleton makes 19-foot step back jumpshot

16. 2nd Quarter · 9:48

    Emily Engstler makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Jordan Harrison assists)

17. 2nd Quarter · 9:28

    Laeticia Amihere makes free throw 1 of 2

18. 2nd Quarter · 9:09

    Bridget Carleton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jordan Harrison assists)

19. 2nd Quarter · 8:51

    Laeticia Amihere makes 3-foot layup (Tiffany Hayes assists)

20. 2nd Quarter · 8:30

    Megan DiLeo makes 4-foot layup (Jordan Harrison assists)

21. 2nd Quarter · 7:16

    Frieda Buhner makes 4-foot layup (Jordan Harrison assists)

22. 2nd Quarter · 5:57

    Cecilia Zandalasini makes free throw 2 of 3

23. 2nd Quarter · 5:57

    Cecilia Zandalasini makes free throw 3 of 3

24. 2nd Quarter · 5:25

    Carla Leite makes 25-foot three point jumper (Karlie Samuelson assists)

25. 2nd Quarter · 4:07

    Megan DiLeo makes 6-foot two point shot (Carla Leite assists)

26. 2nd Quarter · 4:07

    Megan DiLeo makes free throw 1 of 1

27. 2nd Quarter · 3:23

    Megan DiLeo makes layup (Bridget Carleton assists)

28. 2nd Quarter · 3:04

    Gabby Williams makes 4-foot two point shot (Kiah Stokes assists)

29. 2nd Quarter · 2:22

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 1 of 2

30. 2nd Quarter · 2:22

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 2 of 2

31. 2nd Quarter · 2:02

    Cecilia Zandalasini makes free throw 1 of 2

32. 2nd Quarter · 2:02

    Cecilia Zandalasini makes free throw 2 of 2

33. 2nd Quarter · 1:46

    Bridget Carleton makes driving layup (Karlie Samuelson assists)

34. 2nd Quarter · 49.9

    Veronica Burton makes free throw 1 of 2

35. 2nd Quarter · 49.9

    Veronica Burton makes free throw 2 of 2

36. 2nd Quarter · 33.1

    Megan DiLeo makes 5-foot layup (Carla Leite assists)

37. 2nd Quarter · 33.1

    Megan DiLeo makes free throw 1 of 1

38. 2nd Quarter · 7.0

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 1 of 2

39. 2nd Quarter · 7.0

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 2 of 2

40. 2nd Quarter · 6.2

    Veronica Burton makes free throw 1 of 2

41. 2nd Quarter · 2.6

    Veronica Burton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Janelle Salaun assists)

42. 2nd Quarter · 2.6

    Janelle Salaun makes free throw 1 of 1

43. 3rd Quarter · 9:47

    Bridget Carleton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Karlie Samuelson assists)

44. 3rd Quarter · 8:10

    Kayla Thornton makes running layup (Veronica Burton assists)

45. 3rd Quarter · 7:05

    Gabby Williams makes free throw 1 of 2

46. 3rd Quarter · 7:05

    Gabby Williams makes free throw 2 of 2

47. 3rd Quarter · 6:49

    Emily Engstler makes two point shot

48. 3rd Quarter · 6:13

    Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2

49. 3rd Quarter · 5:54

    Janelle Salaun makes 8-foot two point shot

50. 3rd Quarter · 5:33

    Bridget Carleton makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordan Harrison assists)

51. 3rd Quarter · 5:18

    Janelle Salaun makes 18-foot step back jumpshot (Veronica Burton assists)

52. 3rd Quarter · 4:53

    Veronica Burton makes free throw 1 of 2

53. 3rd Quarter · 4:53

    Veronica Burton makes free throw 2 of 2

54. 3rd Quarter · 4:42

    Bridget Carleton makes 23-foot three point jumper (Charisma Osborne assists)

55. 3rd Quarter · 4:25

    Janelle Salaun makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot (Veronica Burton assists)

56. 3rd Quarter · 4:13

    Charisma Osborne makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordan Harrison assists)

57. 3rd Quarter · 3:25

    Kaila Charles makes driving layup (Kaitlyn Chen assists)

58. 3rd Quarter · 2:53

    Gabby Williams makes 17-foot turnaround jump shot

59. 3rd Quarter · 2:03

    Gabby Williams makes 9-foot pullup jump shot (Tiffany Hayes assists)

60. 3rd Quarter · 1:14

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 2

61. 3rd Quarter · 1:14

    Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2

62. 3rd Quarter · 50.5

    Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 1 of 2

63. 3rd Quarter · 50.5

    Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 2 of 2

64. 3rd Quarter · 35.5

    Megan DiLeo makes two point shot

65. 3rd Quarter · 17.2

    Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 1 of 2

66. 3rd Quarter · 2.9

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 2

67. 3rd Quarter · 2.9

    Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2

68. 4th Quarter · 9:43

    Tiffany Hayes makes 4-foot two point shot (Gabby Williams assists)

69. 4th Quarter · 9:14

    Charisma Osborne makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot (Carla Leite assists)

70. 4th Quarter · 8:41

    Jordan Harrison makes free throw 1 of 2

71. 4th Quarter · 8:41

    Jordan Harrison makes free throw 2 of 2

72. 4th Quarter · 8:20

    Frieda Buhner makes 3-foot turnaround jump shot (Jordan Harrison assists)

73. 4th Quarter · 7:38

    Bridget Carleton makes two point shot (Jordan Harrison assists)

74. 4th Quarter · 7:17

    Tiffany Hayes makes 9-foot pullup jump shot

75. 4th Quarter · 6:04

    Jordan Harrison makes two point shot

76. 4th Quarter · 5:56

    Veronica Burton makes free throw 1 of 2

77. 4th Quarter · 5:56

    Veronica Burton makes free throw 2 of 2

78. 4th Quarter · 5:23

    Gabby Williams makes 23-foot three point jumper (Veronica Burton assists)

79. 4th Quarter · 3:49

    Kaila Charles makes layup (Kayla Thornton assists)

80. 4th Quarter · 2:13

    Tiffany Hayes makes 23-foot three point jumper (Gabby Williams assists)

81. 4th Quarter · 1:58

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 2

82. 4th Quarter · 1:58

    Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2

83. 4th Quarter · 1:39

    Bridget Carleton makes running layup (Carla Leite assists)

84. 4th Quarter · 1:13

    Megan DiLeo makes 3-foot layup (Carla Leite assists)

85. 4th Quarter · 37.8

    Carla Leite makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot

86. 4th Quarter · 37.8

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 1

87. 4th Quarter · 29.5

    Gabby Williams makes driving layup (Tiffany Hayes assists)

88. OT · 4:33

    Gabby Williams makes free throw 1 of 2

89. OT · 4:33

    Gabby Williams makes free throw 2 of 2

90. OT · 3:32

    Bridget Carleton makes free throw 1 of 2

91. OT · 3:32

    Bridget Carleton makes free throw 2 of 2

92. OT · 3:13

    Kayla Thornton makes 26-foot three point jumper (Gabby Williams assists)

93. OT · 2:58

    Charisma Osborne makes 26-foot three point jumper (Carla Leite assists)

94. OT · 1:57

    Carla Leite makes driving layup

95. OT · 26.5

    Carla Leite makes 20-foot step back jumpshot

96. OT · 26.5

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 1

97. OT · 20.1

    Bridget Carleton makes technical free throw

98. OT · 20.1

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 1 of 2

99. OT · 20.1

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 2 of 2