Storm fans begin every game on their feet, waiting for their team to score, and they finished Friday night’s there, too.

The Portland Fire dominated most of the game, leading the entire time, but the Storm roared to life in the final minutes. They trailed by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter, then a Natisha Hiedeman three-pointer brought the game to a one-point deficit with six seconds on the clock. Portland (14-20) ultimately came out on top 84-82, winning by two thanks to a Carla Leite free throw and a missed jumper from Hiedeman.

Coach Sonia Raman emphasized postgame that she wants Hiedeman to take those crucial shots, knowing they’re not all going to go in. She attributed the loss to a failure to score in the paint, going 12 for 39 on those shots. The Storm were more successful than the Fire from three and at the free-throw line but were bested in the two-point range.

“Sometimes that happens, and you just got to turn the page and be better next time,” Raman said.

For all of their struggles, no one can say this Storm team isn’t exciting. The team has had trouble closing out games all season, but this was a different kind of loss in the clutch. The team had trailed by more than five points with fewer than five minutes on the clock, and almost dug themselves entirely out of that hole, but are also now 2-15 in games in the clutch category.

“I think it’s just a matter of putting it all together, and so I guess not leaving it ’till the end of the game to be in games,” Ezi Magbegor said.

Magbegor’s game felt representative of the Storm (7-29) season. On one play early in the third quarter, she was knocked to the ground, staying there for a short while, and had a foul called on her. Despite all of that, Magbegor scored 13 points and had eight rebounds.

“What I love about this team, and what we do well, is we never give up on the game or give up on possessions, and I think it’s just a matter of not repeating the same thing,” Magbegor said. “We’ve been in so many close games, and I think that that’s why this one is just very defeating, but you know we’re there. I think it’s just a matter of getting over the line at the end of it.”

The reborn Fire swept the Storm in the season series, including twice during the WNBA’s Rivals Week. The Storm were the first team eliminated from postseason contention, and the Fire desperately need to keep winning to keep their playoff aspirations alive. Holly Winterburn had a season-high 20 points from the bench in her first game as Portland’s top scorer.

The Storm will take the wins where they can find them. After having a longer injury report going into Monday’s game versus the Chicago Sky, just Flau’jae Johnson remained out, and Raman said pregame that she is day-to-day with her left ankle injury. Johnson appeared to be in good spirits and was talking to fans at halftime and cheered on her team from the bench.

One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Magbegor stole the ball from Portland’s Teja Oblak and scored herself, all while wearing a face mask to protect the facial fracture she sustained on July 9. 

Another bright spot is Jordan Horston’s play as of late. She’s strung together three games of double-digit scoring, capped off by a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) on Aug. 14. Averaging 4.8 points per game prior to Friday’s match, Horston has stepped up as a starter amid Johnson’s injury.

“I think that it’s just confidence,” Awa Fam said of her teammate. “Anyone can be important in our team. So, we already know that she can be the player that she’s been. Like these games, we’re really proud of her. She’s just pulling her 100%.”

Fam also kept the 12,596-strong Storm faithful roaring as she dropped a team-high 20 points, including four three-point buckets. She had her best game since being moved to the bench. She looked more like herself in this game after failing to register a point in Monday’s game and only scoring three in the match prior to that one.

“Just put my 100% energy. Doesn’t matter being starter, doesn’t matter to be on the bench. It’s just being in the game, trying to help my team and trying to do what I like to do and what I need to do,” Fam said. “So, it’s just that adjustment, like reading the game, being there, trying to win my team all the time, and that’s it.”

The Storm will host the struggling Sky on Sunday.

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