Portland Fire vs. Washington Mystics: final score, highlights and recap

Mystics Overcome 14-Point Deficit to Edge Fire

Shakira Austin poured in a career-high 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Georgia Amoore sank two free throws with 4.2 seconds remaining to lift the Washington Mystics to a 105-100 comeback victory over the Portland Fire on Sunday night. The Mystics, who trailed by as many as 14 points, outscored Portland 40-30 in the fourth quarter to secure the win, as reported by multiple outlets including the Associated Press and NBC Sports.

Kiki Iriafen added 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting for Washington (22-15), while Sonia Citron chipped in 14 points. Cotie McMahon and Amoore each scored 13. The Mystics' rally was fueled by a key sequence late in the game: Amoore's foul on a Carla Leite 3-point attempt was upgraded to a flagrant, and Leite converted all three free throws before adding a layup to cut Portland's deficit to 92-90 with 3:09 remaining. Amoore answered with a basket inside, and the Fire got no closer.

Leite, Engstler Shine in Losing Effort

Carla Leite led Portland (15-22) with 27 points and 11 assists, while Emily Engstler hit five 3-pointers and finished with 23 points — both career highs. Megan DiLeo contributed 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and Bridget Carleton added 18 points and five steals. Leite hit two 3-pointers and DiLeo scored four points in the final minute before Amoore's free throws sealed the outcome.

Portland jumped out to an early lead, with Engstler draining a pair of 3-pointers in the first four minutes to help the Fire take a 12-2 advantage. The Mystics battled back, and a 16-5 run capped by a Sonia Citron layup and free throw gave Washington a 40-39 lead. Portland led 49-47 at halftime after a Shakira Austin layup and free throw, and the Fire opened the third quarter with a 9-1 run to go up 58-48. But the Mystics chipped away, and the fourth quarter belonged to Washington.

Free Throw Disparity Proves Costly for Portland

The Oregonian noted that Portland allowed 44 free throws, with the Mystics scoring 32 points from the line, while the Fire were a perfect 15-for-15. The outlet described the loss as a "fourth quarter collapse," with the Mystics outscoring Portland 40-30 in the final period.

DiLeo Sets Franchise Record

Megan DiLeo's 21-point performance also marked a historic milestone. According to The Oregonian, DiLeo passed Sophia Witherspoon (175 in 2000) for the team's single-season record for field goals made, finishing Sunday with 179. DiLeo is averaging 13 points per game this season, nearly double her career high, and is shooting 53.9% from the field, eighth in the WNBA.

"I've always kind of had them," DiLeo said of her development. "I've just been behind the scenes and so just kind of taking that step forward." She added, "We don't really care who scores at the end of the day. Like, we just want to be able to score for Portland. And it's just been a blessing to be here."

Bridget Carleton, who finished with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, now has 177 field goals this year, while Carla Leite, with 160, is likely to also pass Witherspoon before season's end, per The Oregonian. Witherspoon, who played for the Fire in 2000 and 2001, is now third on the team's all-time list for field goals in a season.

Up Next

The Mystics visit Phoenix for games Tuesday and Thursday, while the Fire play Tuesday at Dallas, as reported by the Associated Press and NBC Sports.