The 2026 WNBA season is underway, and today’s slate ends with the Chicago Sky vs. Portland Fire matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

The Sky are 5.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Fire are +200 underdogs, with the game total set at 163.5.

Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Sky vs. Fire matchup.

Sky vs. Fire Preview

The Chicago Sky tied for a league-worst 10-34 overall record last season, marking their worst win percentage since their inaugural season in 2006. Chicago further hit the reset button by trading away Angel Reese in the offseason, with future draft picks as the return. They also released last year’s 11th overall pick, Hailey Van Lith. However, this does not present a short-term fix to their issues on both sides of the ball. The Sky scored the second-fewest points per game last season and allowed the fourth-most, while ranking dead last in defensive rating.

On the positive side, there has been plenty of change that should make the outlook different in Chicago this year. The Sky brought in veteran guards Skylar Diggins, DiJonai Carrington, and Natasha Cloud. It is worth noting that Carrington will not be available for the season opener due to a foot injury. Kamilla Cardoso has shown some positive flashes across her first two seasons, and Elizabeth Williams also plays an important role.

The outlook for the Portland Fire is a bit more unclear. It certainly is possible for a team to make some noise in their first season in the WNBA, but there are some questions based on what was seen in preseason. Portland lost both its preseason matchups by scores of 91-81 to the Seattle Storm and 85-75 to the Los Angeles Sparks, largely looking inconsistent across both games.

Carla Leite led the team in scoring across the preseason with 11.5 points per game and 4.0 assists. Serah Williams contributed 5.5 rebounds per game. Bridget Carleton, Karlie Samuelson, and Megan Gustafson will be looked at as the veteran leaders, with each holding seven years of WNBA experience. Nine players on the roster have one or fewer seasons of experience, making this one of the youngest rosters in the league.

Sky vs. Fire Pick, Best Bet

Neither of these teams should be expected to have deep postseason aspirations. But this is an important season for both organizations as they begin to build out a foundation for the future.

While some of the big picture concerns are still relevant, the Sky should be more competent this season. Diggins and Cloud are veterans who have been around the WNBA and have impacted winning at a high level. Both should improve the Sky’s offense, and there have been some positive signs in the preseason.

The Fire will need time to figure out its roster and rotations. It’s tough to believe this expansion team will match the Sky’s offense in the season opener, even with Chicago’s defensive shortcoming last year.

Best Bet: Chicago Sky -5.5 (-110)