WNBA: Portland Fire vs Washington Mystics Preview, Odds and Predictions (July 16)
- The Fire are struggling on the road with a 4-8 record so far.
- The Mystics are decent at home with a 5-5 record to show for it.
- Portland is third-to-last in the West standings, while Washington is third in the East.
The 2026 WNBA season is halfway through as a matchup between the Portland Fire and the Washington Mystics takes place on Thursday night. The latter stands out as the slight favorite, paving the way for an intriguing matchup where both teams need winning momentum.
How to Watch
- When: Thursday, July 16, 7 pm ET
- Where: CareFirst Arena, Washington, D.C.
- How to Watch: NBA TV
WNBA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| POR Fire | -110 | +5 | O164 |
| WAS Mystics | -110 | -5 | U164 |
Game Preview
The Fire (10-14) are back on the loss column after losing five of their last seven games. Getting their 10th win of the season with a 102-92 victory over the Atlanta Dream, they took a step back after losing 90-87 to the Connecticut Sun. Carla Leite led the team with a stat line of 18 points and six assists on 6-of-11 shooting. Megan Gustafson came next with 15 points and five rebounds, while Emily Engstler provided 14 points and seven assists.
The Mystics (12-10) are showing better form in past weeks, winning seven of their last 10 games. They are coming off of back-to-back wins over the Seattle Storm and the Toronto Tempo, recently beating the latter by a 79-62 score. Kiki Iriafen led the attack with 25 points and 14 rebounds on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. Shakira Austin followed suit with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Michaela Onyenwere had 15 points and five rebounds.
Fire vs Mystics Predictions
This game stands out as a tossup given the small gap in their overall records. Portland and Washington had a memorable duel in late-June, going through a thrilling quadruple-overtime contest before the latter prevailed by a 124-123 score. It will take a lot of offense Portland to get the edge over Washington, especially on the road. Our betting pick here is for the Mystics to defend a 5-point spread.
- Free NBA pick: Washington Mystics +5
