Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Tip‑off: 7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+, YES Network, Root Sports Northwest
Injury Report
New York Liberty
- Breanna Stewart — Healthy
- Sabrina Ionescu — Healthy
- Jonquel Jones — Probable (ankle soreness; expected to play)
- Betnijah Laney‑Hamilton — Probable (knee tightness)
- Nyara Sabally — Out (hip)
New York enters mostly healthy, with its core intact and playing at a high level through two games.
Portland Fire
- Skylar Diggins‑Smith — Probable (conditioning; expected to play full minutes)
- Charli Collier — Out (foot)
- DiJonai Carrington — Day‑to‑day (shoulder; game‑time decision)
- Olivia Nelson‑Ododa — Probable (illness)
Portland’s depth is thin in the frontcourt, which is a major concern against New York’s size.
Team Records & Context
- New York Liberty: 2–0 (wins over Washington and Connecticut)
- Portland Fire: 0–1 (lost 88–79 to Chicago in franchise debut)
- 2026 Stakes: Portland’s first home game in franchise history; New York looking to remain unbeaten and assert early dominance.
Recent Team Form
New York Liberty
- Last 2: W–W
- Offensive rating: 114.8
- Defensive rating: 101.3
- Trend: New York looks polished early. Stewart and Ionescu are in midseason form, and the Liberty are shooting 39% from three as a team.
Portland Fire
- Last game: Lost 88–79 to Chicago
- Offensive rating: 102.7
- Defensive rating: 113.4
- Trend: Portland showed flashes offensively but struggled defensively, especially in pick‑and‑roll coverage and defensive rebounding.
Key Player Matchups
1. Breanna Stewart (NYL) vs. Olivia Nelson‑Ododa (POR)
Stewart is a matchup nightmare for Portland’s thin frontcourt.
- Stewart: 23.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG through two games
- Nelson‑Ododa: Solid defender but undersized for this matchup Portland may need to double Stewart frequently.
2. Sabrina Ionescu (NYL) vs. Skylar Diggins‑Smith (POR)
A marquee guard matchup.
- Ionescu: 19.0 PPG, 7.5 APG
- Diggins‑Smith: 17 points in opener If SDS can control pace, Portland has a chance to keep this close.
3. Jonquel Jones (NYL) vs. Portland’s interior rotation
Jones’ size and rebounding are a major advantage. Portland allowed 14 offensive rebounds in its opener — a dangerous trend vs. New York.
4. Betnijah Laney‑Hamilton (NYL) vs. DiJonai Carrington (POR)
If Carrington plays, this becomes a physical, defensive‑minded matchup. If she sits, Portland loses its best perimeter stopper.
Series History
- First meeting in WNBA history
- Portland Fire are in their inaugural season
- Liberty are 2–0 all‑time in franchise “first home game” matchups (vs. Atlanta in 2008, vs. Dallas in 2016)
Betting Trends
New York Liberty
- 5–1 ATS in last 6 dating back to 2025
- Overs in 4 of last 5
- 4–1 ATS in last 5 road games
Portland Fire
- 0–1 ATS (lost by 9 as 6‑point underdogs)
- Over hit in opener
- Expansion teams historically 1–6 ATS in first 7 games
Matchup Trends
- Liberty have scored 85+ points in both games
- Portland allowed 88 points in its debut
- New York has a +13.5 average scoring margin so far
GAME ODDS
New York Liberty – 13.5
Portland Fire 173.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, May 11, 2026
