The Los Angeles Sparks travel to the Moda Center to face the Portland Fire on Sunday, August 2, 2026, in a matchup between two teams desperate to end a skid. Portland sits as a razor-thin 1-point home favorite, and the total has climbed to 185.5. Both clubs arrive on losing streaks, so this is one of the more wide-open spreads on the WNBA slate. The game airs on NBC and Peacock in an afternoon window. Our best bet leans on the season’s only prior meeting and a key absence in the Los Angeles backcourt. The full breakdown, odds, and picks are below.
Last Updated: Sunday, August 2, 2026
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Portland Fire — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Moda Center, Portland OR |
| When | Sunday, August 2 – 3:30 PM ET |
| TV | NBC / Peacock |
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Portland Fire Betting Preview
The Sparks come in at 10-17 and have dropped six in a row. The Fire counter at 11-18, losers of four straight. Neither side has found rhythm lately. Still, Los Angeles owns the head-to-head edge. The Sparks handled Portland 89-72 in the first meeting this season and lead the season series 1-0. Sunday is the second of three scheduled meetings between the clubs.
Injuries shape this one. Star guard Kelsey Plum has been sidelined with a left lower-leg injury and has missed roughly a dozen games. Her status remains uncertain heading into Sunday. In her absence, Los Angeles has leaned on Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby to carry the load. Ogwumike is still one of the league’s steadiest two-way forwards, and Erica Wheeler has handled the primary playmaking duties.
Portland, in its inaugural WNBA season, has been competitive at home but thin on proven closers. Guard Carla Leite leads the young roster in scoring and assists, and Bridget Carleton spaces the floor from deep. The Fire also lost Sarah Ashlee Barker for the season to a knee injury, which stretches their backcourt depth. Our recent look at Portland’s home matchup with the Fever flagged similar concerns about the Fire’s ability to hold leads late.
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Portland Fire Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks | +1 (-110) | +100 | U 185.5 (-110) |
| Fire | -1 (-110) | -120 | O 185.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of Sunday, August 2, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest WNBA Odds – Futures – Props
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Portland Fire — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Sparks | 63% | 37% | Fire |
See the latest WNBA Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Sparks vs. Fire Prediction — Can the Road Team Keep Its Series Edge?
This line sits at a virtual pick’em, and the market is telling us these teams are close to even. The public agrees on the side but not the price. Roughly 63 percent of spread bets are on the Sparks, even as the visitors carry the longer number on the road. That backing makes sense given the head-to-head result. Los Angeles won the first meeting by 17 points, and the Sparks still hold more proven scoring in Ogwumike and Hamby.
The case for Portland is real, however. The Sparks have lost six straight and remain without Plum, their leading scorer. A tired road team on a long skid is exactly the type of spot where a home dog-turned-favorite can flip the script. The Fire have been the sturdier side against the number this season, and their home crowd gives them a small edge.
Still, one point is a thin margin to lay on a team that just lost to this opponent by 17 and ranks behind them in overall talent. Getting the hook with the more experienced roster is the more defensible position. The pick could go wrong if Portland’s youth finally clicks at home, but the value sits with the visitors.
The Pick: Los Angeles Sparks +1 (-110)
Sparks vs. Fire Prediction — Will the Points Match the Rising Total?
The total opened at 181.5 and has since climbed to 185.5, a four-point jump that signals scoring expectations. Both defenses have leaked points all season, and each team’s games have trended toward the over in recent weeks. That is the case for backing the over here.
The fundamentals push the other way. These teams combine to average roughly 175 points per night, which sits well below the posted number. Their only prior meeting produced just 161 combined points, comfortably under. Plum’s absence also trims the Los Angeles ceiling, since her scoring is hard to replace. With a shorthanded offense and a total that has already risen, the value points down. The over would cash if both sides shoot well from deep, but the number looks inflated.
The Pick: Under 185.5 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
For bettors who want more return on the side we already like, the Sparks moneyline offers a look. At even money, a Los Angeles outright win pays the same as the stake on a team that just beat this opponent by 17. The risk is obvious in a pick’em game, since either side can win a coin flip. Still, taking the more proven roster at plus money is a reasonable upgrade over the spread for those chasing a bit more upside.
The Bonus: Los Angeles Sparks ML (+100)
To recap, here are our picks for Sparks vs. Fire: Los Angeles Sparks +1 (-110), Under 185.5 (-110), and a bonus play on the Los Angeles Sparks moneyline (+100). All three lean on the same read — the Sparks are the sharper roster in a game the market has priced as a toss-up.
WNBA Sparks vs. Fire FAQ: Sunday August 2, 2026
What time does the Sparks vs. Fire game start?
The Los Angeles Sparks and Portland Fire tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 2, 2026. It is an afternoon start on the WNBA’s Sunday schedule. The game is played at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, with both teams looking to snap losing streaks.
What channel is the Sparks vs. Fire game on?
The game airs nationally on NBC, with a live stream available on Peacock. Coverage lines up with the 3:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Viewers without cable can follow the action through a Peacock streaming subscription, which carries the national WNBA broadcast for this matchup.
Where are the Sparks and Fire playing today?
The Los Angeles Sparks and Portland Fire play at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The arena serves as the Fire’s home venue during their inaugural 2026 WNBA season. Portland has hosted the bulk of its home schedule at Moda Center this year in front of strong crowds.
Who won the last meeting between the Sparks and Fire?
The Los Angeles Sparks won the first meeting this season, beating the Portland Fire 89-72. That result gives Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the season series. Sunday’s game is the second of three scheduled meetings between the two clubs this year.
What are the Sparks and Fire records this season?
The Los Angeles Sparks enter at 10-17, while the Portland Fire sit at 11-18. Both teams arrive on losing streaks. The Sparks have dropped six in a row, and the Fire have lost four straight heading into Sunday’s afternoon tip at the Moda Center.