Two games on the Monday slate and neither one went according to form. Portland came into New York as a significant underdog, trailed by 10 at halftime, and then outscored the Liberty 32-17 in the fourth quarter to pull off the upset. In the nightcap, Golden State sent a message to the rest of the league, building a lead as large as 34 points and dispatching a Connecticut team that never once threatened. Here is how it all went down.

Portland Fire 81, New York Liberty 74

New York had this game. The Liberty led 33-35 at halftime, built the lead to 10 in the third quarter, and outscored Portland 24-14 in the third frame. With three quarters gone, this looked like a comfortable home win for New York. Then Portland remembered who they have been all week. The Fire outscored the Liberty 32-17 in the fourth quarter and won 81-74, their second road win over a marquee opponent in three days.

Portland's fourth-quarter performance was defined by defense first and opportunistic offense second. The Fire forced 19 New York turnovers total and converted them into 23 points, and their 12 steals across the game set the tone for how physical and disruptive they were willing to be on that end. Carla Leite was the offensive engine, finishing with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting with four fast-break points, converting 100 percent of her transition opportunities. Emily Engstler continued her strong stretch, logging eight points, five rebounds, four steals, and four blocks on efficient 3-of-6 shooting. Her defensive numbers are becoming one of the more consistent stories across the Fire's winning stretch. Bridget Carleton drew seven fouls and went a perfect 5-of-5 from the line for 10 points, and Sarah Ashlee Barker converted all three of her second-chance opportunities for seven second-chance points while shooting 3-of-5 overall.

New York had enough talent on the floor to win this game, and they still could not close it out. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 25 points and drew 12 fouls, going 15-of-17 from the free throw line, but shot just 4-of-11 from the field and finished at minus-4. Marine Johannes was the lone bright spot in terms of pure shooting efficiency, going 6-of-12 from the field (5-of-9 from three) for 17 points. But Johannes also turned the ball over six times, and those six giveaways were directly responsible for a significant chunk of Portland's 23 points off turnovers. Jonquel Jones posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds but shot 3-of-11 and finished at minus-9. The Liberty had a head coach technical foul added to their problems, and their 0.89 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team reflected a night where ball security failed them entirely when Portland needed a opening.

POR 81 · NYL 74

Connecticut Sun 70, Golden State Valkyries 97

This one was not close from the moment the second quarter started. Golden State led 27-22 after one quarter, then detonated a 20-8 second frame that put the game firmly out of reach. The Valkyries built a lead as large as 34, Connecticut never led once, and the final score of 97-70 does not exaggerate the gap between the two teams on this particular night.

The story of the Valkyries' win is depth. Golden State scored 53 bench points. Read that again: 53 of their 97 points came from reserves, meaning their starting unit contributed just 44 points and the bench outscored the entire Connecticut team's bench 53-40. Kayla Thornton was arguably the defensive standout of the night, grabbing eight rebounds and recording three steals while finishing at a plus-26. Her defensive rating of 65.4 was the best of the game for anyone who played meaningful minutes. Gabby Williams shot 6-of-10 from the field (3-of-5 from three) for 15 points with a plus-21 as a starter. Veronica Burton ran the offense efficiently with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, two made threes, and six assists. Kaila Charles contributed 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting (2-of-2 from three) with seven rebounds, two steals, and a plus-27, the best plus/minus of the game. Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere each added nine points off the bench, with Chen shooting 60 percent and Amihere drawing seven fouls.

Connecticut had nothing to offer as a collective unit. Aneesah Morrow posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, the one performance worth highlighting in an otherwise forgettable night for the Sun. Saniya Rivers went 0-of-8 from the field for two points, a minus-16, and an efficiency score of minus-6. Diamond Miller shot 0-of-3 and committed three turnovers. Kennedy Burke went 1-of-3 for three points with two turnovers and a minus-14. Connecticut turned the ball over 18 times and Golden State converted those into 24 points. The Sun also shot just 42.1 percent at the rim, compared to Golden State's 62.5 percent. Every number in this box score tells the same story: Golden State was the better team in every category.

GSV 97 · CON 70

Monday was a two-game slate that delivered a genuine shock and a thorough dismantling. Portland continues to be the most disruptive team in the WNBA right now, with a defensive intensity and fourth-quarter toughness that has now stolen wins from multiple teams who had no reason to lose. Their 32-point fourth quarter in New York is a number that will be discussed for a while. Golden State, meanwhile, looks like a team hitting their stride at the right time. Fifty-three bench points and a 34-point lead is a statement, and the Valkyries are backing up their early-season upset of the Liberty with sustained excellence. Connecticut, on the other hand, needs to look hard at their turnover problem before it defines their entire season.

Star of the Night: Kaila Charles, Golden State Valkyries

12 points | 5-of-8 FG | 2-of-2 from three | 7 rebounds | 2 steals | plus-27 | True shooting 71.1%

In a game full of Golden State contributors, Charles was the most impactful player on the floor from start to finish. Her plus-27 was the best mark of the game, her shooting was efficient across all three levels, and her seven rebounds reflected a physical presence that set the tone for Golden State's dominant second quarter. On a night when the bench outscored Connecticut's entire team in many stretches, Charles was the linchpin.

Dud of the Night: Saniya Rivers, Connecticut Sun

2 points | 0-of-8 FG | 2 turnovers | minus-16 | Efficiency score minus-6

Zero made field goals on eight attempts, two turnovers, and a minus-16 in a game where Connecticut needed everyone to compete. Rivers shot 11.3 percent true shooting on the night, the second-worst mark of any player across both games. In a Connecticut performance that had very few redeeming moments, Rivers's night stood out as the low point.