Fire vs. Valkyries prediction favors Golden State to win Friday's WNBA matchup [9/18/2026]

Using innovative machine learning and statistical analysis, we have re-simulated the outcome of Friday's WNBA game between the Fire and Valkyries, forming part of our WNBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives the Valkyries an 80.3% chance of defeating the Fire. According to our model, the Fire (+12.5) have a 63.3% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 159.5 points has a 59.3% chance of going over.

Latest betting odds

We have sourced the best WNBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Spread: Fire +12.5 (-104) / Valkyries -12.5 (+100)
• Moneyline: Fire +669, Valkyries -700
• Total: Over/Under 159.5 (+102/-104)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Model 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:

• Spread: Fire +12.5 @ 51¢ via Polymarket
• Moneyline: Fire @ 13¢ via Polymarket
• Total: Over 159.5 @ 50¢ via Novig

According to our WNBA best bets, the top play to make on this game is Fire +12.5 at the spread.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.

Top player props

Looking for Fire vs. Valkyries WNBA prop bets? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Chase Center.

Emily Engstler is expected to lead the Fire with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists, while Tiffany Hayes is projected to have 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for the Valkyries.

For early game action, the data identifies Tiffany Hayes as the most probable player to secure the first basket.

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 player props

Our model's projected player stats for the Fire are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Emily Engstler	19	7	2	3	41
Megan DiLeo	12	5	1	1	23
Carla Leite	12	2	6	1	27
Amy Okonkwo	6	3	1	1	14
Frieda Buhner	5	3	1	1	12

Valkyries player props

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Valkyries:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Tiffany Hayes	13	6	3	2	31
Veronica Burton	10	3	7	1	30
C. Zandalasini	9	2	2	1	18
Kaitlyn Chen	8	2	2	1	16
Kayla Thornton	8	5	1	2	18

Game info & tip-off details

Friday's action between the Valkyries and Fire at Chase Center is scheduled to start at 10:00 PM ET.

• Who: Portland Fire vs. Golden State Valkyries
• Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
• Time: 10:00 PM ET/7:00PM PT
• Venue: Chase Center

Conclusion

We predict the Valkyries, with an 80.3% win probability, will likely beat the Fire in Friday's WNBA matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.

This article's predictions and probabilities are generated by Dimers' proprietary WNBA prediction model. Our editorial team reviews the resulting content for accuracy and presentation before publication.