The WNBA’s two newest teams meet in a game nobody circled in the preseason, and both arrive in a deep slump. The Toronto Tempo visit the Portland Fire on Thursday night at Moda Center. Each team has lost five straight. Portland opened as a short home favorite and the number has held firm. Toronto counters as a road underdog missing two rotation guards. Our full breakdown covers the spread, the total, and the one play we trust most before tip-off.
Last Updated: Thursday, August 6, 2026
Toronto Tempo vs. Portland Fire — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Moda Center, Portland, OR |
| When | Thursday, August 6 – 10:00 PM ET |
| TV | WNBA League Pass (KPDX in Portland) |
Toronto Tempo vs. Portland Fire Betting Preview
Neither expansion side has found any rhythm lately. Portland enters at 11-19, and Toronto sits just behind at 10-20. Both teams rank near the bottom of the league standings. More telling, each has dropped five games in a row heading into this meeting.
The Fire have kept most of those losses close. They fell to the Sparks 106-101, then to the Fever 112-98, and later to the Wings 101-97. Portland scores 86.5 points per game. However, the defense has been the problem. The Fire allow 94.0 points per night, one of the worst marks in the league.
Toronto’s slide has been rougher. The Tempo lost twice to Golden State this week and absorbed a 104-72 blowout in Minnesota. Availability is a big reason. Guards Brittney Sykes (plantar fascia) and Kiki Rice (ankle) are both expected to miss extended time. Sykes was averaging better than 20 points before the injury. Without her, Toronto’s scoring has dipped into the low 80s and even the 70s. The Tempo reached this game after a midweek loss to the Golden State Valkyries.
Portland is not fully healthy either. Guard Sarah Ashlee Barker is out for the season with a torn ACL. Still, the Fire own the head-to-head edge. This is the second meeting of the season between the clubs. Portland’s home floor should help a team that has struggled to close on the road.
Toronto Tempo vs. Portland Fire Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempo | +2.0 (-105) | +115 | U 188 (-110) |
| Fire | -2.0 (-115) | -135 | O 188 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of Thursday, August 6, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest WNBA Odds – Futures – Props
Toronto Tempo vs. Portland Fire — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Tempo | 29% | 71% | Fire |
See the latest WNBA Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Tempo vs. Fire Prediction — Can the Fire Bury a Depleted Toronto?
The case for laying the points starts with health. Toronto’s offense has cratered without Sykes on the floor. The Tempo have scored 72, 79, and 81 points in three of their last five games. That is a tough profile for a road underdog against a home team that wants to run.
The public leans the same way. As the splits above show, Portland has drawn 71 percent of spread bets and an even heavier share of moneyline tickets. That backing fits a home favorite that handled Toronto by 19 points earlier in the season. Portland gets the same opponent, now short two guards, on its own court.
There is a real counter, though. Two points is a small number in a game between two struggling teams. Portland allows 94.0 points per night, so the Fire are not a lockdown defense. A hot shooting stretch from Marina Mabrey and Nyara Sabally could keep Toronto within a possession. Still, the balance tips toward the healthier side at home. Portland holds the roster edge and the crowd, and the margin should be there again.
The Pick: Fire -2 (-115)
Tempo vs. Fire Prediction — Will a Short-Handed Toronto Slow the Scoreboard?
The total opened at 187.5 and ticked up to 188. On paper, that fits two of the league’s weakest defenses. Portland allows 94.0 points per game, and Toronto allows 93.6. Both teams also lean over on the season, with each sitting close to 19 overs in their scheduled games. That history argues for points.
The counter is Toronto’s shrinking offense. The Tempo have failed to reach 84 points in three of their last five outings. With Sykes and Rice sidelined, Toronto lacks the shot creation to push the pace. Portland’s defense is poor, but it does not need to be strong if Toronto cannot score. A grind toward the mid-80s on one end keeps this game under the number.
The Pick: Under 188 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
This is a matchup between two teams still building an identity. The edges are small, and neither side inspires full confidence. The most defensible read is that the healthier home team wins by a modest margin in a game that stays under the total.
For a bonus angle, the moneyline is worth a look. Portland is priced at -135 to win outright. Because the spread is only two points, some bettors prefer the moneyline to avoid a one-point loss on the number. The tradeoff is the added juice you pay for the safer margin. It is the same read as the spread, expressed with less push risk.
Bonus — The Pick: Fire moneyline (-135)
To recap, the card here runs three plays. We like the Fire -2 (-115) on the spread, the Under 188 (-110) on the total, and the Fire moneyline (-135) as a lower-variance bonus. All three lean on Portland’s health edge and Toronto’s stalled offense. For the rest of today’s WNBA predictions, check our latest coverage.
WNBA Tempo vs. Fire FAQ: Thursday August 6, 2026
What time does the Toronto Tempo vs. Portland Fire game start?
The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire tip off at 10:00 PM ET on Thursday, August 6, 2026. That is 7:00 PM local time in Portland. The game is the late West Coast entry on the WNBA’s Thursday schedule.
Where are the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire playing today?
The game is at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, the Fire’s home arena. Portland hosts this second meeting of the season after visiting Toronto in May. Moda Center is also home to the NBA’s Trail Blazers.
Who won the last meeting between the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire?
Portland won the first meeting 99-80 on May 23, 2026, in Toronto. The Fire controlled that game for their first road win of the season. Thursday is the second of the teams’ scheduled matchups this year.
Where do the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire stand in the WNBA standings?
Both teams sit near the bottom of the league standings. Portland is 11-19 and Toronto is 10-20 entering Thursday. Each expansion team also carries a five-game losing streak into this meeting.