WNBA: Fire beat Mercury, spoiling Diana Taurasi celebration

Portland Fire guard Carla Leite, right, drives past Phoenix Mercury forward Noemie Brochant (1) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX — Carla Leite scored 23 points and the Portland Fire rallied to beat Phoenix 88-85 on Sunday night, when the Mercury had halftime and postgame ceremonies celebrating franchise icon Diana Taurasi.

Leite had the final two baskets in a 6-0 run and the expansion Fire (15-20) moved in front 81-80 with 1:12 remaining. Portland’s Emily Engstler and the Mercury’s Kahleah Copper traded baskets before Katie Lou Samuelson hit the second of two foul shots with 20 seconds left to put the Fire up 84-82.

Bridget Carleton blocked a shot by Copper and grabbed the rebound with 12 seconds to go, then sank two free throws for a four-point lead after Copper fouled her. Alyssa Thomas buried a 3-pointer, but Carleton sank two free throws to preserve the win.

READ: WNBA: Diana Taurasi inducted into Mercury Ring of Honor

WITH BACK-TO-BACK EPISODES!!!

Carla Leite is on 🔥 in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury. https://t.co/Jkm406iH0g pic.twitter.com/QDdJzB0daB

— Portland Fire (@theportlandfire) August 17, 2026

Leite shot 9 for 15 and added five assists. Megan DiLeo had 15 points.

DeWanna Bonner scored 23 to lead Phoenix (13-23). Copper totaled 19 points and seven rebounds. Thomas finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, falling one assist shy of a triple-double.

Bonner and Thomas both scored six points to guide Phoenix to a 22-18 lead after one quarter. Bonner had 14 points by halftime and the Mercury took a 42-36 lead into intermission.

READ: Welcome to the Fire Pit: Portland embraces its reborn WNBA team

Frieda Buhner and DiLeo sank 3-pointers late in the third quarter to get Portland within 64-61 heading to the fourth.

Phoenix retired the No. 3 jersey of Taurasi, the WNBA’s career scoring leader with 10,646 points. She won three championships with the Mercury over 20 seasons.

Up next

Fire: At Toronto Tempo on Friday.

Mercury: At Atlanta Dream on Saturday.