WNBA
Golden State comes in with the stronger two-way profile, a better net rating, and a much lower opponent scoring mark than Portland. The Valkyries are scoring less than the Fire on the season, but they are also far more efficient defensively and have been in much better recent form. Portland’s offense is solid enough to keep games competitive, yet its defense has allowed too many clean looks and too many points overall, which has been a major reason for its recent slide.
Golden State should have the edge in this game because of its superior defense, better shot suppression, and stronger recent form. Portland can score, but its turnover issues and defensive numbers make it difficult to trust against a team that has been closing games well. The projected final score is Golden State Valkyries 81, Portland Fire 74, which supports an under result and a controlled win for the visitors.
