PLAYOFFHOTELS
WNBA · JULY 18, 2026 ● LIVE

Portland Fire at Minnesota Lynx

Target Center · Minneapolis, MN

THE PICK

POR Portland FireAWAY · 1449 ELO
@
Minnesota LynxHOME · 1715 ELO MIN
11.8% WIN PROBABILITY 88.2%

The model makes Minnesota Lynx a 88.2% favorite — home advantage included. One game is one game: a 88.2% edge still loses 11.8 times in 100.

Prediction history

8 UPDATES

Every time the model moved this pick — logged in full. It updates until 15 minutes before gametime, then locks.

88.2% Minnesota Lynx ▼ -3.8
Ratings shifted on the latest results run.
92.0% Minnesota Lynx ▲ +0.3
Ratings shifted on the latest results run.
91.7% Minnesota Lynx ▲ +0.8
Ratings shifted on the latest results run.
90.9% Minnesota Lynx ▲ +0.1
Ratings shifted on the latest results run.
90.8% Minnesota Lynx ▼ -2.6
Ratings shifted on the latest results run.
93.4% Minnesota Lynx ▲ +0.4
Ratings shifted on the latest results run.
93.0% Minnesota Lynx ▲ +0.1
Ratings shifted on the latest results run.
OPEN
92.9% Minnesota Lynx OPENING LINE
First model run when the matchup posted. Elo gap of 266 points at open.

The factors

1 IN THE NUMBER

Everything the model sees for this game. Only backtest-validated signals move the probability — the rest is context, shown anyway.

GAME-TIME CONDITIONS

INDOORS — WEATHER OFF THE BOARD

SCHEDULE & TRAVEL

POR REST 1D MIN REST 2D POR TRAVELED 936 MI POR CROSSED 1 TIME ZONE DIVISIONAL MATCHUP

AVAILABILITY CONTEXT ONLY — NOT IN THE NUMBER

POR Sarah Ashlee Barker OUTKarlie Samuelson DAY-TO-DAYSania Feagin OUT
MIN Napheesa Collier OUTEmma Cechova OUT

IN THE NUMBER

REST +3 ELO

The numbers

AWAY

Portland Fire
ELO RATING1449
RANK#9
RECORD11-16
LAST 104-6
STREAKW1

HOME

Minnesota Lynx
ELO RATING1715
RANK#2
RECORD21-6
LAST 107-3
STREAKW4

Ratings come from every WNBA result this season — updated daily, weighted by margin of victory, with Minnesota Lynx getting the standard home bump. An Elo difference of 266 points plus home advantage at Target Center produces the 88.2% call. Full methodology →

What could break the pick

Portland Fire come in hot on a 1-game win streak — recent form the season-long rating hasn't fully priced in. Even strong favorites lose outright about once in three tries at this probability. Starting lineups, rotation minutes, and rest move real outcomes in ways a rating system can’t see.