The Fire are hosting the Sun on Monday. Portland is favored by 3.5 points and this game carries a total of 173.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook,
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Fire vs. Sun Preview
The Fire are one of the WNBA’s expansion teams this season and as expected with a new franchise, Portland has had some growing pains to start. The club is 1-2 and ranks 13th in net rating. The Fire rank ninth in offensive rating, but their defense has struggled mightily, ranking second-to-last in rating.
Portland used two of it’s top three picks in the expansion draft on Carla Leite and Bridget Carleton, and these two guards have been lived up to the high selections, leading the team with 19.5 and 16.7 PPG, respectively. Leite leads the team in plus-minus, but is questionable tonight with an ankle injury.
The Fire are coming off a two-game mini series vs. the Liberty and with Leite active for the first tilt, she scored 21 points and led Portland to a 98-96 win. However, with Leite inactive for the second contest, New York defeated the Fire 100-82. If Leite sits, Carleton would see an increased usage rate and Sug Sutton would be in line for more work.
Still, the Fire winning tonight is possible even if Leite is sidelined, given the Sun are in town. Connecticut finished 11-33 last season and it’s struggles have continued in 2026, as the Sun are 0-4, making them the only winless team in the WNBA. Connecticut ranks last in net rating at -21.9, compared to the Fire at -12.6.
The Sun finished last in offensive rating last season and the club once again ranks last in the category. Connecticut hasn’t made it up on defense, either, ranking third-to-last in defensive rating. Aneesah Morrow has taken a step forward in her second season, leading Connecticut with 14.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, but the addition of Brittney Griner hasn’t panned. The nine-time All-Star is averaging 14.5 PPG, but her defense has been lackluster, resulting in Griner ranking third-to-last in plus-minus for the team. At 35-years-old, Griner is past her prime and while she is a big name that can sell tickets, her saving the Sun and making them a competitive team is out of the question.
With Marina Mabrey departing in free agency, Tina Charles retiring and Leila Lacan competing overseas, the Sun are without their top three scorers from last season. Lacan is expected to rejoin the Sun at some point this season, but in the meantime, Connecticut is limited offensively, with Morrow, Griner, Hailey Van Lith and Saniya Rivers being the club’s best options.
Fire vs. Sun Pick, Best Bet
Predicting this game is difficult without knowing Leite’s status. That being said, the Fire still hold home-court for this matchup and the Sun have been so bad that Portland should win this game no matter what.
The best bet to consider here is over 173.5 points. The Sun lead the league in pace and these are two of the WNBA’s weakest defenses, so we should be in store for a high scoring affair. For the over this season, the Fire are 3-0 an the Sun are 3-1.
