Sonia Citron scored a career-best 32 points, including the go-ahead basket with 21.4 seconds left, and the Washington Mystics edged the visiting Portland Fire in a marathon battle, prevailing 124-123 on Sunday in the second quadruple-overtime game in WNBA history.
Portland’s Carla Leite scored a career-high 32 points and added nine assists, but her driving runner bounced off the back rim with under a second left in the fourth OT.
Michaela Onyenwere scored a career-high 30 points and Kiki Iriafen scored a career-high 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out six assists for Washington (9-9), which snapped a two-game skid.
Sarah Ashlee Barker scored a career-high 25 points, Megan Gustafson had 20 points before fouling out and Bridget Carleton had 16 points for the Fire (8-12), who lost their third straight game.
The other four-overtime game also involved the Mystics. They beat the host Seattle Storm 72-69 on July 3, 2001.
Leite prevented Portland from losing in regulation by sinking a wild, stepback 3-pointer to tie it at 87 with under a second remaining. She also hit a long 3-pointer to tie it at 99 with 18.3 seconds left in the first overtime.
Citron drove for a basket with 14.9 seconds left in the second overtime to tie it at 103 for Washington.
Carleton sank a turnaround jumper with 3.4 seconds left in the third overtime to tie it at 116 and force OT No. 4.
During the decisive stretch, Citron was limping after cramping up and received a pass for a layup to give Washington a 124-122 lead with 21.4 seconds left. Leite was fouled with 13.1 seconds remaining and split two free throws to leave the Fire down one before coming up empty at the end.
The game was the first to go at least three OTs since the Dallas Wings beat the Phoenix Mercury 117-111 on June 18, 2016.
In regulation, Carleton drove for a layup to bring the Fire within 85-84 with 17.3 seconds left before Citron hit two free throws with 14.1 seconds to play.
Washington later had a chance to seal the game, but Alicia Florez missed two free throws with 8.1 seconds left and the Fire capitalized on Leite’s miracle 3-point bank.
Portland made 44.6% from the field, including 14 of 39 from 3-point range. The Fire committed 24 turnovers, leading to 32 Washington points.
Washington guard Georgia Amoore (right knee soreness) exited after the first half. She had two points.
The Mystics connected on 42.9% of their shots and were 10 of 29 from 3-point range. Washington committed 19 turnovers, amounting to 25 Portland points.
Washington ran out to leads of 14-4 and 23-11 in the opening quarter before the Fire rebounded to lead 55-48 at halftime. Portland led 67-62 after three quarters.
–Field Level Media
