The Portland Fire (16-24) and Golden State Valkyries (29-11) meet in the WNBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. EDT at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. The game will be broadcast live on ION.
The Valkyries are favored by -12.5 on the spread, with the over/under set at 161.5. The Valkyries are a -950 favorite to win outright, while the Fire are +625 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Fire vs. Valkyries predictions and WNBA picks. For more WNBA picks and analysis, download the Action Network app today.
Fire vs. Valkyries Odds, Pick
| Fire Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12.5 -110 | 161.5 -110o / -110u | +625 |
| Valkyries Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12.5 -110 | 161.5 -110o / -110u | -950 |
- Fire vs. Valkyries Spread: Valkyries -12.5 (-110), Fire +12.5 (-110)
- Fire vs. Valkyries Over/Under: 161.5 (-11o/-110u)
- Fire vs. Valkyries Moneyline: Fire +625, Valkyries -950
- Fire vs. Valkyries Best Bet: Cecilia Zandalasini Under 1.5 Threes Made (+100, Hard Rock)
Fire vs. Valkyries Preview
The Golden State Valkyries' rotation got its stars back from international duty, and tonight marks Cecilia Zandalasini's return to the lineup after representing Italy at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin. She rejoined the team over the weekend but is already carrying a questionable tag for reconditioning purposes, a real signal that her workload tonight could be managed carefully rather than let loose at a normal pace.
Golden State remains one of the league's stingiest defensive teams and enters with real depth, even without a full workload from Zandalasini, who's averaged 8.3 points per game this season in a complementary scoring role behind Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, and Janelle Salaün.
Portland enters off one of its best performances of the season, a 101-83 road win over Atlanta behind Carla Leite and Megan DiLeo, and the Fire will be looking to build on that momentum against a Golden State team that's dealt with its own share of shorthanded stretches down this stretch of the schedule.
Fire vs. Valkyries Prediction
The case for the under centers on role and readiness rather than a shooting slump. Zandalasini is a legitimate knockdown shooter capable of big nights from deep; she set a franchise mark with five made threes without a miss back in August, but her makes swing widely from game to game depending on shot volume and role, and tonight's circumstances point toward a reduced workload.
Coming off international competition and already listed as questionable for reconditioning, the more likely scenario is a cautious re-entry. This will likely mean fewer minutes, a lighter shot diet, and a coaching staff prioritizing getting her back up to game speed over featuring her as a high-volume three-point weapon on her debut night back.
That kind of first-game-back usage pattern tends to cap counting stats like made threes even for an efficient shooter, since fewer minutes and fewer total attempts naturally compress the ceiling regardless of shooting touch.
With Golden State also boasting other proven scoring options who don't need to lean on Zandalasini to win this game, there's little reason for the coaching staff to push her workload early. Given the real uncertainty around her conditioning and minutes tonight, the under carries solid value at even money.
Best Bet: Cecilia Zandalasini Under 1.5 Threes Made (+100, Hard Rock)
