Portland Fire head coach Alex Sarama has been recognized as the WNBA Coach of the Month for May, marking a significant achievement for the team in its inaugural season. Sarama guided the Fire, one of two new expansion teams in the league, to a commendable 6-4 record during the month.

Despite a recent loss to the Golden State Valkyries, which brought their overall record to 6-5, the Fire currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot. This impressive start has been largely driven by standout performances from key players.

Guard Carla Leite has been a pivotal force, averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game, with a shooting accuracy of 47.1% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. Bridget Carleton has also contributed significantly, averaging 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, while shooting 44.6% from the field and 37.9% from three-point range.

On the defensive end, Emily Engstler has been a standout, averaging 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game, alongside her 9.7 points. Additionally, Sarah Ashlee Barker has provided valuable contributions off the bench, averaging 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds with a shooting percentage of 51.9% from the field and 48.4% from three-point range.

Upcoming Challenges in the Commissioner’s Cup

The Portland Fire are currently in the midst of the Commissioner’s Cup schedule, an in-season tournament that affects both Cup standings and regular-season standings. They are 0-1 in Cup play following their loss to the Valkyries.

The upcoming games in the Commissioner’s Cup include matchups against the Phoenix Mercury, Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, and Seattle Storm. The teams with the best records from the Eastern and Western conferences will advance to a championship game, with a $500,000 prize pool at stake. The championship game is scheduled for July 1 and will be hosted by the team with the best winning percentage in Cup play.

Original reporting: KGW Portland — read the source article.