The Golden State Valkyries are about to show the Portland Fire that there is a massive difference between scoring points and actually winning basketball games. This regular season matchup at the Moda Center features a 31-11 Golden State squad that has absolutely dominated on the road with a 14-6 away record, while the 16-27 Fire have spent most of the year getting cooked on their own floor to the tune of an 8-13 home split. If you are tuning into Fox 12 Plus at 10:00 PM EDT, expect a masterclass in contrasting styles. Portland can fill it up at 86.1 points per game behind Carla Leite, but their defensive rotation is essentially a red carpet, surrendered to the tune of 91.2 points allowed per night.
Golden State, on the other hand, wins with a chokehold, suffocating opponents by giving up just 74.8 points per game. The real intrigue tonight is how both coaching staffs patch up their rotations, as the injury report looks like a medical ward. The Valkyries will have to protect their 82.3-point offense without the services of Cecilia Zandalasini, Janelle Salaun, and leading scorer Gabby Williams, while Portland is down major pieces in Holly Winterburn and Bridget Carleton. Even shorthanded, the Valkyries have the defensive infrastructure to turn this into a very long night for the hosts. Head over to StreakChat to lock in your pick and tell us if you think Portland's offense can crack the league's stingiest defense.