Published Jul 3, 2:30am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jul 3, 2:30am ET
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Updated Jul 3, 2:30am ET
One of Saturday's WNBA matchups features the Seattle Storm hosting the Portland Fire. Who has the edge in our Storm vs Fire pick?
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| Seattle Storm | +1.5 (-114) |
| Portland Fire | -1.5 (-105) |
Seattle had posted back-to-back wins for just the second time this season. Unfortunately, that streak ended with a disappointing 90-67 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night.
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The suspense factor faded quickly, as Seattle fell behind 55-36 at the break. And thanks to a pedestrian nine-point effort in the fourth quarter, Phoenix cruised to an easy 23-point win.
Natisha Hiedeman and Awa Fam led the team with 13 points each and combined for 10 rebounds. Flau'jae Johnson and Jade Melbourne added 11 points each for a Storm squad that dropped to 1-9 on the road this season.
After posting a five-point victory over Seattle on Jun. 17, the Fire have dropped three straight. This stretch includes a 124-123 overtime loss to the Washington Mystics.
Portland held a 55-48 lead at intermission before the Mystics pulled ahead late in regulation. But Carle Leite banked in a 3-pointer to force what would be the first of four extra frames.
However, Washington would get the last say, as Sonia Citron knocked down the go-ahead basket with 21.4 seconds left, lifting the home team to a dramatic victory. Leite scored a team-high 32 points, along with nine assists and six rebounds. Sarah Ashlee Barker put up 25 points, going 10-of-16 from the floor.
Seattle enters this tilt as a 1.5-point underdog. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
Seattle has won two of its last five games at Climate Pledge Arena, while Portland remains winless in its previous five road outings. The Storm have also taken three of the last five meetings in this series and continue to profile as a top‑10 defensive ball club, giving the host team a slight edge heading into Saturday’s matchup.
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Pick
Seattle Storm (+1.5)
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