Portland Fire guard, Sarah Ashlee Barker, exited Wednesday night's game against the Dallas Wings after suffering a left leg injury during the opening minutes, casting a shadow over an otherwise competitive 101-97 loss. Barker went down after delivering an assist on a Frieda Buhner three-pointer, appearing to awkwardly plant her left leg before falling out of bounds. She was unable to leave the court on her own and was helped to the locker room by medical staff. The team did not provide an immediate diagnosis or timeline for her return following the game.
According to multiple reports, Barker did not return to action, leaving Portland without one of its most consistent contributors heading into the WNBA All-Star break. Before the injury, Barker had recorded one basket and two assists in just over four minutes of play. The former Alabama standout entered the contest averaging 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, making her absence immediately noticeable as Portland attempted to rally against Dallas. Portland Fire mounted a late comeback, but they ultimately fell short without one of their starting guards.
