PORTLAND, Ore. — The Liberty let Tuesday’s game against the Fire slip away in the fourth to suffer their first loss of the season, 98-96.  The Liberty held a seven-point lead at halftime, but the Fire came out hot to start the second half.  The Liberty managed to pull ahead by seven to end the third. Portland didn’t go away. The game was tied four times over the final 4:47.  With the game tied, the Liberty committed a three-second violation with 13.8 seconds left that proved to be lethal.  Sarah Ashlee Barker with the put-back layup at the horn to deliver the Fire their first win in franchise history.  The story of the game had been about the Liberty’s two French players, Marine Johannès and Pauline Astier , whose impact to start this season has been much needed with the team down Sabrina Ionescu (left foot injury) and Satou Sabally (cyst).  Sarah Ashlee Barker scores the game winning basket during the Liberty’s 98-96 win over the Portland Fire on May 12, 2026 at Moda Center in…