WNBA Blockbuster Mismatch - Sunday
- Handicapper
- Jim Feist
- League
- WNBA
- Competition
- Golden State Valkyries vs Portland Fire
- Release Date
- 08/30/2026 01:22 AM
- Event Date
- 08/30/2026 07:00 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Golden State Valkyries -5.5 (-103)
(BetOnline)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- I’ll back the Golden State Valkyries against Portland here on Sunday. Golden State currently sits at 28-11 against Portland’s 16-23, but the Valkyries still have something to play for as they fight for home-court advantage and one of the top seeds in the playoffs. Portland is officially out of playoff contention.
The biggest reason I like Golden State in this one is defense. The Valkyries do a terrific job at ball pressure, forcing turnovers and contesting shots on the perimeter. That defensive prowess becomes even more valuable with Portland missing starting point guard Carla Leite (out to prepare for the FIBA World Cup), along with Sarah Ashlee Barker who is out for the season. Portland simply does not have the weapons to consistently score against one of the best defensive teams in the league.
Golden State is dealing with their own absences, as Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaun and Cecilia Zandalasini will miss the game while representing their country in the World Cup. They have coped with regular absences by relying heavily on their bench depth, and when these teams played earlier this season Golden State played 12 players, no player logged more than 27 minutes, and rolled to a 95-77 win blasting 18 three pointers.
Perimeter shooting will once again be key in this matchup. Portland has poor three-point defense, and Golden State is not afraid to fire away from distance. Even without their usual cast Golden State should be able to manufacture good looks and use their defense to create easy buckets in transition.
Jim's Play: 625. GS Valkyries