- 4 weeks ago
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00:00...at the center spot for the Connecticut Sun.
00:03There is Sarah Ashley and the young coach of the Portland Fire, Alex Sarama.
00:09What a job that he has done.
00:11One of the leading candidates for WNBA Coach of the Year at the midway point of this season.
00:17We are underway.
00:19Connecticut wearing the orange uniforms and Portland wearing the whites here on the road.
00:31Swung over, working inside, missing her first shot, but grabbing her own miss is Olivia Nelson-Odota.
00:37You see early Connecticut looking to get into the paint, playing through their post.
00:41That's where they're going to look to go.
00:44So the fire, they have got to be disciplined.
00:46Stay down and just show that wall.
00:52Olivia Nelson-Odota, the 6'5", fifth-year veteran out of Connecticut.
01:00So it has a lot of fans here as a pro that have come over from her days as a
01:06UConn Husky.
01:13She knocks in a pair, so Connecticut on the board.
01:25Carlton, first three, two strong, and the rebound brought down by Nelson-Odota.
01:41Medota going over the top of Inksler, but good defense walling up.
01:46That's exactly what the fire is going to do.
01:48They see that mismatch there.
01:49Oh, what a dime by Emily Inksler.
01:53The back cut by Barker.
01:55That's as pretty as it gets.
01:56We can't talk enough about how much value Emily Inksler brings to this team,
02:00the offense and the defense especially.
02:04Now that was just as good as it gets.
02:08That's a good pass for a point guard, but Inksler delivering it.
02:13Connecticut on the other end gets their first bucket of the game.
02:17Great job by Charlize Lender-Walker to sneak behind the defense.
02:20Inksler, the three-ball good.
02:23All right, Emily Inksler had her coffee.
02:25She's ready to go here for the early tip.
02:28The dime in the tray.
02:31Emily coming off a great game.
02:3314 points, 11 boards, four assists, three steals,
02:39and a blocked shot at Atlanta.
02:41And Connecticut comes down and hits again.
02:44I was going to say, Emily Inksler is a fellow East Coastor at heart, so.
02:48Oh, behind the back, time!
02:51Oh, Emily Inksler, two gorgeous passes to get us started here on the road.
02:57Whatever she had to eat, her coffee, I'm going to ask her.
02:59We got to bring it over here for Elise.
03:00I need some of that.
03:02And now she has the takeaway.
03:05Pushes it ahead to Carla Late.
03:09Good closeout by Charlize Lender-Walker.
03:11Wouldn't let Carlton get the shot off.
03:13Emily goes right to the rack.
03:15And she will head to the foul line.
03:17What a flurry of high-level basketball by Emily Inksler.
03:22She must have had some of her mamas cooking.
03:24Her mama can cook.
03:26The way she's been coming out and playing off the rip,
03:28the defense, the offense, the assists.
03:31Emily Inksler is doing just about everything.
03:35And now here, I mean, how about the behind-the-back there
03:37to Met Gustafson?
03:39Someone came ready to play.
03:40That is your first Tech first quarter replay.
03:43Emily Inksler involved in all of them.
03:48And as I was saying, what a game that she had in Atlanta.
03:53She just filled up the box.
03:55She, the double-double with 11 boards and the 14 points.
03:59And she is continuing that play here at Connecticut.
04:03And there's Griner over the top of Gustafson.
04:07Not much that you can do there.
04:09One of the all-time best putting it in.
04:11Carlton right back at you.
04:13Filling it up from deep.
04:16Love the fire's intent on pushing that pace.
04:18Even after a score from Connecticut,
04:20they're going to fire right back at you and better from three.
04:22And now the takeaway, Inksler with another steal,
04:26reading the passing lane and pushing.
04:28All the way, calls her own number.
04:31That one off the back rim and controlled by the Sun.
04:40Inside out, Griner has not hit a three yet this season.
04:44But Diamond Miller has.
04:45And she cashes that one in.
04:47This Connecticut team is not a good three-point shooting team.
04:5227%.
04:52They've only made now 118.
04:55Portland's made more than 100 threes this season than Connecticut.
04:59Which will be the goal for the fire on defense,
05:02is to keep Connecticut out of the paint.
05:04Emily Inksler's a great anchor.
05:06She had that last steal in getting Brittany Bryant of the ball.
05:11That 3-2 strong rebound controlled by Barker,
05:14but a whistle away from the ball.
05:20Technical foul.
05:23And so a technical foul has been issued
05:28against the Portland bench.
05:32And if I'm not mistaken,
05:34that might be the first technical foul this season
05:36on the Portland bench.
05:37I believe so.
05:41So they set on the Portland bench.
05:42Not sure if that was Coach Sarama letting them hear about it.
05:46And it was at the other end of the floor, too,
05:48with the officials on that end.
05:49So very interesting.
06:03Now the technical foul was whistled against Coach Sarama.
06:12So it is knotted up at a dozen apiece here in the first.
06:17Great flurry of scoring to get this started.
06:20Carlton already has hit a three.
06:23She reverses in.
06:24Now she gets it back from the corner.
06:27Cash it in.
06:28And V.C., four made threes at Atlanta.
06:31Already two here in the first four minutes.
06:34The Fire want to make that extra pass,
06:36and that's great execution to find one of your best shooters
06:39in the corner.
06:41Good help defense by Freida Booner.
06:45Carson, Connecticut to turn and go back.
06:49Now inside.
06:50Nice dime.
06:53Crashing that one in.
06:55Aaliyah Edwards.
06:59Connecticut product in her third year.
07:02Getting to the rim is Carla Late.
07:05And she did not draw the whistle that she was looking for.
07:12Lacan high, arcing three.
07:15Such is only nylon.
07:17That's a triple.
07:20Exactly what Layla Lacan does.
07:22She can shoot at all three levels.
07:23She can defend the heck out of the basketball.
07:25The Fire cannot let her get on a heater.
07:28Over the last four games, she has been red hot from three.
07:32Seven for 15.
07:34So a hot stretch.
07:36You can tell that she's feeling good
07:37as she hits the first three attempts of the game.
07:41Bridget Carlton here on the drip pass.
07:43How about the pass back?
07:45Because Bridget Carlton's woman lost her.
07:47That is a great read from Sarah Ashley Barker.
07:49That extra pass.
07:51Exactly what Alex Sarama wants in his offense.
07:55Five assists on five made field goals for the Portland Fire.
07:59They're sharing the basketball.
08:05Well, you wonder about in the first five minutes of a game like this,
08:08it starts so early.
08:09Both teams playing with tremendous energy.
08:12Oh, and nearly a takeaway.
08:14As Nelson Adota scores it and then tries to intercept the pass.
08:22And the whistle coming.
08:27No sub.
08:28They continue as it was a warning for delay of game.
08:36So the Portland Fire led by Carly Lake.
08:44Barker powering her way into the lane and she draws contact.
08:50She'll head to the line for a couple of free throws.
08:52But it brings us to our first time out.
08:55She'll just go in because she's already set the tone.
08:59Our Kaiser Permanente proven performance.
09:03Sarah Williams with the 15 points as Sarah Ashley Barker able to knock in the first free throw.
09:12And these are the numbers for the bigs.
09:14Meg Gustafson, as Sarah Williams said.
09:16I just love the rookie giving flowers to Meg Gustafson.
09:19Who's one of the top ten in the WNBA in field goal percentage.
09:22Well, one thing she didn't lie about when she said every time Meg puts it in,
09:25it's like, how?
09:26That's impossible.
09:26How did that happen?
09:27I think the same way because you can tell Meg just does Mike and drill
09:31because her touch around the basket, she does not miss.
09:35She is.
09:36She is the Mike and drill.
09:37Literally.
09:38It's called the Megan drill.
09:39The Megan drill.
09:39Okay, we're going to do that from now on.
09:40That was Kaiser Permanente proven performance once again.
09:45Connecticut getting inside.
09:47That is Edwards with another bucket in the paint.
09:53Connecticut already double figures, points in the paint.
10:04Barker working her way into the lane.
10:07Her shot won't drop.
10:08Williams there to collect the miss, and she will head to the foul line.
10:12Williams working the glass.
10:15That's where Sarah Williams is needed.
10:17Her ability to get on the glass, just having that post presence, rebounding,
10:21altering shots, protecting the rim.
10:24The fire need a big in there doing all those things, and to have Sarah Williams come in
10:28and do that alongside Meg Gustafson.
10:30It just only makes the team better.
10:32She was originally drafted by Connecticut.
10:36Sarah Williams in the third round before Portland acquired her on draft day.
10:41And boy, are the fire excited about that trade now as we have seen Sarah Williams develop.
10:46For every free throw that the Portland Fire make at home this season, Alaska Airlines will donate
10:502,500 Atmos rewards points to UNCF, supporting equal access to college education.
10:56Thank you to Alaska Airlines.
11:01Sarah Williams with three completed three-point plays against Atlanta.
11:10And she pulls the fire to within two here on the home floor of the Sun.
11:17Taya Oblak on to pressure Charlie Sledger-Walker now, the two rookies.
11:24Stepping into the jump shot.
11:26Another bucket for Connecticut as Edwards has come out hot.
11:33She is 3-for-3 for an early six points.
11:55Oblak gets into the lane, it gets deflected, and it's going to be a shot clock violation.
12:03Great defense from the Sun and Gloma, you saw the pressure, the intense pressure she put on Sarah Ashley Barker,
12:10which completely threw the offense off.
12:12A lot of perimeter pressure from the guards.
12:15Great job by Charlie Sledger-Walker as well.
12:18This Connecticut Sun team, number one in the W in blocked shots.
12:22Also very good in steals.
12:25They have been applying pressure.
12:27Edwards, again, working it all the way to the rim and one.
12:33It's tough, right, because the Sun have the size advantage at a lot of positions out there on the floor,
12:39and they're looking to exploit that, especially in the paint.
12:42This is the first personal on Inksler, just the second foul against Portland as a team.
12:48Just the size up.
12:49Olivia Edwards, she's from UConn.
12:51We know exactly what she could do.
12:52She's been doing that since her college day, but Ritz from the high post.
13:05Inside, Nadia Potch goes to the deck.
13:08Oblak open from three.
13:12And that just means the next one will drop for Taya Oblak.
13:16She's shooting 50% this season from the three-point line.
13:20She is as automatic as it gets from long range.
13:22So special.
13:23That's what makes them different when you talk about Carla Leight and Taya Oblak.
13:27Carla Leight is just a paint, gets to the paint.
13:29Can shoot from outside as well, but Taya Oblak, just a lethal force.
13:34Kennedy Burke, the leading three-point shooter for the Sun.
13:39It won't drop, and then an offensive foul whistled against the Sun, pursuing the rebound.
13:46I believe they're going to get Aaliyah Edwards sort of pushing into the back
13:49as she skyrocketed for that rebound.
13:51We'll have another look at it.
13:56It's that push in the back the officials are going to see.
14:00It was Carly Samuelson, who took the contact.
14:05And then Portland with the basketball.
14:07Inksler, a little pump fake, drew the defense.
14:10Now works in the lane.
14:11Her left-handed hook off the mark.
14:14Oh, nice get-ahead pass by Charlize Ledger Walker.
14:17And that led to the open bucket in transition by Nell Enbloma,
14:22the 6'1 rookie out of France, just 20 years old.
14:26That was a fantastic job from Ledger Walker.
14:28I mean, that's exactly what Connecticut wants to do.
14:30They want to play the defense and try to push, get out as much as they can.
14:33Easy offense.
14:35Connecticut with their largest lead of the game.
14:38They now lead by nine.
14:42Portland was able to beat Connecticut both times earlier this season
14:46when the Sun visited the Rose City.
14:51Now, this is a different Connecticut Sun team.
14:54They've won three of their last six.
14:56They've added Layla Lacan.
15:00And she's arguably their best player.
15:04Had that notable win over Minnesota on the road.
15:06So, just a completely different team where where they are now
15:10does not really reflect their record.
15:12And just getting that point across to our fans watching
15:14because we haven't seen them in quite a while.
15:17Connecticut 5-18 overall this season.
15:20Another jumper going down.
15:23Connecticut is shooting lights out.
15:26Edwards tacks on another bucket.
15:29She is 5-for-5.
15:31She's in double figures with 11 points here in the first.
15:34And 30 points on the board in the first quarter for Connecticut.
15:39From that same spot up top, too.
15:41Connecticut just getting inside and out.
15:46Reagan Beers hands it off to Ledger Walker.
15:49Her three ball too strong.
15:51Fight for the rebound.
15:52Samuelson has it.
15:57Portland has looked pretty good offensively,
15:59but their defense has yet to find consistent stops.
16:04Samuelson winds up on the hardwood.
16:07Whistle comes.
16:12Foul will be whistled against Kennedy Burks.
16:16Samuelson taking a couple of hits on her time on the floor.
16:22They're caught.
16:23Maybe a little bit of hip, a little bit of backhand afterwards.
16:28Well, not very easily.
16:29Could have been a moving screen.
16:33Samuelson will take it, and she'll head to the foul line.
16:36The sharpshooter thrills the first one.
16:39Good to have Carly Samuelson back and healthy.
16:42She's missed some time with a fractured finger on her non-shooting hand.
16:47The veteran out of Stanford in her eighth season in the WNBA.
16:53And she cans the pair.
16:57And Portland's going to have to find a way to get some stops.
17:00And for that, it's taking away the pain, especially limiting the post.
17:04The posts are really having their way in this matchup,
17:07finding those mismatch opportunities.
17:09The cross-screen action has really been a killer, and that rip and drive.
17:14This time, Portland walls up.
17:18Forces the miss.
17:19Grabs the rebound.
17:20Carla late, pushing.
17:21No whistle.
17:24Ten seconds difference between the clocks.
17:28Inside.
17:29Too easy.
17:30Edwards has been an unstoppable force.
17:34She's got 13 points.
17:37It's been ball movement, moving off the ball.
17:38We've seen those catches at the top of the key, the high post.
17:41You see it under the basket.
17:4632 points allowed by Portland.
17:48One of their worst defensive quarters of the season so far.
17:53Gustafson's three-ball rolls all the way around and off,
17:56and a chance for Connecticut to tack on.
17:59Ledger Walker know, and Inksler will grab the miss.
18:04To avoid more damage.
18:06But, boy, the Connecticut sun scorching the net.
18:1068.
18:11They work early, and they've got to guard those cross-frees.
18:14Too many times, the post have been getting freed up under the basket.
18:17Alex Sarama mentioned that Connecticut does that as well as anybody in the W.
18:22They want to get the ball in the paint, and they certainly did.
18:2516 points in the paint in the first quarter to just four for the Portland Fire.
18:34Defense, defense, defense, defense.
18:37Carlton takes off and gets all the way to the cup.
18:42To Carlton for a gold medal shot at that.
18:45And for Portland, it broke a streak.
18:48They did not have a field goal the last six minutes and 12 seconds of the first quarter.
18:53Had some free throws, but they were outscored 20-8 in that time frame.
18:57So, we'll see the adjustments.
19:03By the coaching staff.
19:05Quick double team to Griner.
19:07She picks it out.
19:08And Gloma works her way inside.
19:15Gloma, one of the multitude of young French stars in the WNBA.
19:22Carla Leite also one of them for the Portland Fire.
19:27I wonder if they're talking trash in French.
19:29Oh, I'm sure they are.
19:30You get mic'd up.
19:33Griner trying to feed it inside.
19:34I asked Carla Leite before the game.
19:36There's so many great young French players in the league, Carla.
19:41What is the secret sauce?
19:43She went to the Tony Parker Academy, but many of these other players did not.
19:47I talked to Leila Lacan, another French star for the Connecticut Sun.
19:52And she's like, yeah, I didn't go to the Tony Parker Academy.
19:54And Carla said, oh, French is good.
19:57That's what I was going to say.
19:57We're talking about French.
19:59Good.
20:01They gave us a run, you have to run for our money.
20:03Last Olympic Games.
20:04Yes, they did.
20:05The league saw that, brought all those French players over.
20:08Oh, Carla Leite, the Frenchie there, getting all the way to the rim.
20:12Wanted an and one, but a high-level bucket for Carla.
20:17She said, French is good after that makes.
20:24Inside, great footwork, the up and under by Nelson Adota.
20:28Yeah, Emily Engsler had the wall up and then got off of her feet.
20:31You do have to credit that up and under from Nelson Adota.
20:3472% shooting from the floor for Connecticut.
20:38And now Leite loses control of it.
20:41The turnover will give it to the Sun.
20:46Great hard hedge from Engsler.
20:48But on the weak side, wide open is Nelson Adota, and Connecticut cannot miss.
20:56They are hitting everything right now.
20:5917 of 23 from the floor.
21:02You couldn't do that in warm-ups.
21:04Here's Engsler, first shot off target.
21:10And now the push-ahead pass, Griner running the floor.
21:14Maybe the easiest shot of the day, but that one won't drop.
21:18A rare miss so far for the Sun.
21:24Leite takes off all the way to the cup.
21:27There's your and one, and Carla Leite clapping her hands together.
21:32Carla Leite took her quite a few bumps before that one, and no calls there.
21:37So happy, I know she's happy about that one.
21:40That ability to get any player on their hip.
21:42You're forcing the big to have to come over and help.
21:46That's the second personal on Kennedy Burke.
21:49And if I'm not mistaken, I believe that is why Alex Surama got the technical foul.
21:55Because Carla Leite went to the deck, didn't get the whistle.
21:57As he should.
21:58She's taken a couple of times that they were missed.
22:02She earns the three-point opportunity, and she cashes it in.
22:08So good balance for Portland.
22:10Eight different players have scored.
22:12Bridget Carlton right now leading the way.
22:14A couple of three balls going down for her.
22:16She's got eight.
22:17Great offense.
22:18Need the better defense.
22:19Need the stops.
22:25Lacan skips it all the way over the corner, and a whistle away from the ball.
22:29An offensive foul.
22:30It's a great job.
22:31Meg Gustafson, Brittany Griner in there, physical, battling, working.
22:35Meg Gustafson doing her work early and not letting up.
22:39Rashid Mezion, the head coach for Connecticut, not liking the call.
22:48BG throws the elbows here and there.
22:50That was the elbow swinger.
22:52I mean, you're a post player.
22:54You know how it is.
22:58Brittany Griner, one of the best players in the history of the WNBA.
23:03What an up and under.
23:04Great hesitation by Meg to get the bucket.
23:11And now a whistle.
23:13Carla Lake picking up the foul.
23:17I believe they had her for a hold.
23:18The bucket went and trying to apply some pressure.
23:23You got to credit what was a great bucket, a great play,
23:27and read off the pick and roll action from late to Meg.
23:30One of the best tandems on this team.
23:33Carla Lake going to get caught with a foul.
23:41And it must have been whistled as a take foul as the free throw by Lacan does not drop.
23:53And the take foul is when you try to stop a fast break early.
23:59An intentional foul, so Connecticut will have the ball and an eight-point lead.
24:05And they have been red hot to start this game.
24:1070% shooting from the floor so far.
24:21Diamond Miller's three off the mark.
24:23Griner just too strong inside.
24:26Too strong, too tall.
24:28And the post that time did a great job of stopping that cross-screen action
24:31so Griner could not get the ball.
24:33But credit Griner.
24:34She wanted it and got it off the glass.
24:36Second chance opportunity.
24:37Another bucket in the paint.
24:3922 points in the paint for the Connecticut Sun.
24:42And Carlton gets it taken away.
24:45The interception by Miller.
24:47And now Lacan runs and beats everybody down the floor for the transition bucket.
24:52And Coach Sarama and Portland want a timeout.
24:57The Connecticut Sun here on their home floor cannot miss.
25:03Their offense is on fire.
25:07Some shots have gone down.
25:09A lot of long jump shots.
25:10And that's because the fire having to come over and help with the presence and the paint.
25:15So they're just going to have to continue to lock it down and be there on those rotations.
25:21So most of the starters back on the floor.
25:24This is Booner off the bench or three ball off the heel.
25:28And Oblak holding Lacan.
25:32And this could be on the line of a clear path foul or a take foul rather.
25:43As our officials are having a conversation.
25:47Again, already the take foul is when you stop a fast break early.
25:52It's a free throw in the ball.
25:58Coach Mezzion for Connecticut wanted the take foul.
26:05He's not going to get it though.
26:07He will get the foul against Oblak.
26:10Nobody in foul trouble for Portland.
26:13Nobody with more than one personal.
26:19Griner inside spins away from Williams for the easy bucket.
26:25It's tough.
26:26Brittany Griner is a mismatch in any matchup.
26:29No matter who it is.
26:31Williams is giving away five inches to the six foot nine Brittany Griner.
26:38Brittany coming off a 29 point game against Minnesota with 10 boards.
26:44Brittany Griner missed the last two because of a quad injury.
26:49But her last game was special.
26:51Well and not only did she kill offensively in the post against Minnesota.
26:56She shut Natasha Howard down.
26:59A player that has to produce on the offensive end.
27:02I mean a huge, Brittany Griner was so huge overall in that matchup two ways.
27:07Brittany Griner of course taking over the top spot.
27:11The number one shot blocker in the history of the WNBA passing.
27:18The great shot blocker.
27:20Here we go.
27:20Taya Oblak the other way.
27:24Booner.
27:24Three ball.
27:25Yes.
27:26She hit three of them in Atlanta.
27:28And a quick timeout from Coach Mezzion.
27:32He does not want to see the Portland Fire catch fire.
27:37And it's Frida Booner shooting it with a ton of confidence.
27:4246 to 35.
27:44Less than five to go until halftime.
27:48Yeah.
27:49You got the red ones.
27:51You got the Red Bull.
27:52The Portland wearing the all whites here at Connecticut.
27:57Okay.
27:57I see the restock.
27:59The restock is real.
28:00The restock is real.
28:01Halfway part of the season.
28:04Halfway through the renewal of Portland basketball in the WNBA.
28:09Nice cut from Edwards.
28:11Finally a miss.
28:11She has been absolutely lighting it up.
28:15She's got 13 points.
28:16Now six of eight from the floor.
28:18But Portland got the miss they needed.
28:21Portland also having to take better care of the basketball in this quarter.
28:24They've turned it over a few times which did give Connecticut that extended run.
28:31Inside.
28:33Greiner sends the Booner attempt back.
28:35And then Connecticut on the run.
28:38Good defense from Oblak to get back in a hurry.
28:41Excellent transition defense to clean it up.
28:44It's going to be tough going in the paint when you have Brittany Reiner at 6'9", protecting the rim.
28:48Well, she's going to get a rest.
28:52And Booner, the rookie, learning a lesson that it is tough to try to get inside and score over the
29:00top.
29:01And the best shot blocker in the history of the W.
29:06She just adds her name to the list of players that have been rejected by Brittany Reiner.
29:11And the list is long.
29:15So the Portland Fire defense coming away with another stop.
29:26Hotch loses her footing around the screen.
29:28Nice job not to turn it over.
29:31Three on the shot clock.
29:32Oblak has to go.
29:34And it's taken away.
29:37And then a foul by Barker.
29:38And probably not a bad one.
29:40As Connecticut was trying to get out and run.
29:49That's the first foul against Sarah Ashley Barker.
29:55Four points today after missing the matchup in Atlanta to attend her older brother's wedding.
30:07So an 11-point advantage for the Connecticut Sun.
30:12Their largest lead was 14.
30:17Portland has been able to slow them down at a much better rate here in the second quarter.
30:22Inksler trying to feed Potts.
30:24Deflected by Lacan and stolen.
30:26What Lacan does, you can't give those type of passes.
30:28Oh, the block by Emily Inksler.
30:31And then a miss at point-blank range.
30:34Emily Inksler, what a hustle to get down there and take away what looked to be a sure bucket.
30:42And then the turnover.
30:46The unforced turnover.
30:48One of the frustrating ones for Portland.
30:50But Emily Inksler trying to get her team fired up with her defensive play.
30:55Yeah, this is just how you get back.
30:57After having that turnover, Emily Inksler just completely in the play to get the block,
31:03give the fire the opportunity to get that stop defensively.
31:06Emily with two steals and a block.
31:10She is the only player in the WNBA in the top ten in both steals and blocks.
31:15The three-ball off target by Edwards.
31:19Portland wants to push tempo.
31:24Barker gets it to Gustafson.
31:26Had a good look, but it won't drop.
31:29Connecticut's cooling off.
31:31This is where the fire can really try and capitalize.
31:33Go on a run offensively.
31:36That's a good look from Meg Gustafson, who's hit 28 threes this season.
31:40That's second most among centers in the entire league.
31:49Long jumper again.
31:50This one is short.
31:52Nelson Adota and the Sun have cooled down a bit.
31:58Lacan penetrating.
32:00Oh, and then looked like a travel.
32:03Getting her own miss and putting it in.
32:06Edwards.
32:08Able to grab the carom and get the easy bucket.
32:13She's up to 15 points, but boy, it looked like she traveled.
32:19So, another timeout taken.
32:23All right, San Francisco, I know you know how to do this move.
32:26Here in Connecticut, less than two minutes to play until halftime.
32:33And Portland has been forced to be road warriors here over the last couple of weeks.
32:41They had four games on the road.
32:44One game at home versus Vegas, and now this is game two of a four-game road trip.
32:50After this, they'll head to the nation's capital and then return to Minnesota
32:55before finally coming home July 22nd, a Wednesday against Dallas, Asia.
33:01I mean, you go on the road, and you play against these staunch teams on the road.
33:06Given the fact that it's a road game period, it just makes it difficult.
33:08Then you come back home, and you play some of the top teams in the league.
33:12So, the schedule, it just continues to get difficult.
33:15But that's where the Fires still got to stay locked in together
33:18and just collect as many wins on the road as they can.
33:21Yeah, there are three home games for the Portland Fire in the entire month of July.
33:26It was Las Vegas, the defending WNBA champs.
33:30Dallas was some of the best young stars in the game.
33:32And then Indiana, who's at the top, near the top,
33:36in the top half of the standings in the WNBA.
33:39So, Portland, of course, very confident.
33:42They were able to beat Dallas before or without Paige Beckers.
33:49Here's Bridget Carlton from deep.
33:52No, looked on target, but short.
34:03Inksler collects the miss, and she will go right to the rim
34:08and score it coast-to-coast for Emily Inksler.
34:11It's a great job.
34:12That's how you attack it.
34:13That was great defense on Diamond Miller as well,
34:15kind of out of control at the basket.
34:17All you have to do is wall up.
34:19Wall up, protect the paint.
34:24Inside, Carlton nearly got a tie-up.
34:27And now Lekanoff, one foot, gets the bounce.
34:31Shooter's touch for Layla Lekan.
34:34Those are the type of shots she makes, inside and out.
34:38It's a tough guard, especially with the height advantage over late.
34:43Dusteson, the lefty, had that one swirl all the way around the rim and pop out.
34:48She's had a couple of those today.
34:50Long pass ahead to Miller.
34:53Nearly lost her balance.
35:00That jumper off the mark.
35:04So Portland has given up those long jumpers.
35:08They were hitting them in the first quarter, not here in the second.
35:11Inksler looking for the three, too strong.
35:15And Connecticut can hold for the final shot of the first half if they choose.
35:23Portland will move their defense up and try to apply some pressure.
35:39Connecticut shooting 55% here in the first half, but they shot 70% in the first quarter.
35:47They have cooled down.
35:49Lekan takes off, loses the grip.
35:51Five seconds to go.
35:52Time for a shot for Carlton.
35:54Ahead to Barker at the buzzer.
35:56Count it!
35:59What a transition break led by Bridget Carlton.
36:03Brilliant.
36:06Textbook defense to offense.
36:08This is the fire formula right here to end the quarter, basically.
36:12Bridget Carlton with the defense and finding Sarah Ashley Barker.
36:16She could have gone for the shot, but zipped it ahead real quick.
36:19Saw her teammate running, and that is excellent transition O.
36:22Well, Barker was on her horse, man.
36:24She got down to the bucket in a hurry, and that is the exclamation point that Portland was looking for
36:32to end the first half.
36:34The three-point play completed.
36:37Obviously, things to clean up.
36:38They're on both ends of the floor, but I really think defensively where the fire have picked it up, the
36:43help, the rotations have been there.
36:44They've been on point, and then the rotation back out to their man or woman when they dig and help
36:50has been great.
36:52And then the defense, the defense, the defense, the defense, the defense, the defense, the defense.
36:58Carla Leite comes to get it, and now she works her way inside the paint.
37:02Take it away.
37:02Nice read defensively by Charlize Ledge Walker to intercept.
37:05Yeah, that pass needed to go back to Emily Angsler.
37:08Charlie Sledger Walker knew exactly where it was going and tracked it.
37:20Layla Lacan avoiding a couple of defenders.
37:23Her shot too strong, and it bounces out to Bridget Carlton.
37:26Two on one.
37:27Shope stop, pop, and hit.
37:30Oh, that is high-level stuff in transition.
37:33High-level stop and pop out from three in transition.
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