Fire vs. Lynx prediction: Why Minnesota is favored to win Saturday's WNBA matchup [7/18/2026]
Get Portland Fire vs Minnesota Lynx predictions for WNBA Saturday.
The Minnesota Lynx and Portland Fire will lock horns in the WNBA at Target Center on Saturday, with tipoff at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced WNBA model predicts the Lynx as the most likely winner of the Fire vs. Lynx game.
The Lynx, with the likes of Natasha Howard, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams, are set to take on the Fire, featuring Carla Leite, Sarah Barker and Bridget Carleton.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Saturday's matchup, including best bets and player prop picks.
Fire vs. Lynx prediction: Who will win and cover?
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Lynx an 86.5% chance of beating the Fire.
According to our model, the Fire (+12.5) have a 55.3% chance of covering the spread, while the 174.5-point over/under has a 63.2% chance of staying under,.
Fire vs. Lynx odds
We have researched the best WNBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Fire | Lynx |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +12.5 (+102) | -12.5 (-112) |
| Moneyline | +614 | -669 |
| Total | o174.5 (-110) | u174.5 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Fire vs. Lynx picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Fire +12.5 | hard_rock+102 |
| Moneyline | Fire | +614 |
| Total | Under 174.5 | -110 |
According to our WNBA best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 174.5 total points.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Fire vs. Lynx player props
Betting on Fire vs. Lynx WNBA player props? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Target Center.
Carla Leite is expected to lead the Fire with 13 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists, while Natasha Howard is projected to have 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists for the Lynx.
Shifting focus to the first basket market, our projections highlight Olivia Miles as the most likely player to open the scoring.
Check out our WNBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and a deeper look at today's WNBA first basket picks.
Fire prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Fire are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carla Leite | 13 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 26 |
| Sarah Barker | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
| B. Carleton | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 21 |
| Emily Engstler | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 25 |
| Teja Oblak | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
Lynx prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Lynx:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natasha Howard | 16 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 36 |
| Kayla McBride | 16 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 29 |
| C. Williams | 14 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 31 |
| Olivia Miles | 12 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 27 |
| Nia Coffey | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 26 |
Fire vs. Lynx game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's matchup between the Lynx and Fire at Target Center is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: Portland Fire vs. Minnesota Lynx
- Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Target Center
Conclusion
We predict the Lynx, with an 86.5% win probability, will likely beat the Fire in Saturday's WNBA matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Mac Douglass specializes in NFL previews for the NFC South and NFC East, MLB best bets, Formula 1 race previews, and professional tennis insights. Combining predictive simulations and data-driven sports analysis, Mac provides in-depth content to elevate the betting experience for sports fans.
