Venue and Tip-Off Time
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington (home of the Seattle Storm and Seattle Kraken).
Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT).
The game airs on ION.
Team Forms and Standings Context
Portland Fire (expansion franchise) sit in the middle-to-lower Western Conference (around 5th/9th overall). They have shown competitiveness in their inaugural season, recently beating Seattle 100-93 at home on August 8 (Bridget Carleton 24 points) and Toronto, though they fell to Minnesota 85-81 on August 12. They hold a winning record against the Storm this season.
Seattle Storm are at the bottom of the West (8th, eliminated from playoff contention). They snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 97-88 home win over the Chicago Sky on August 10 (Dominique Malonga 26 points), but entered that game on a long skid that included the recent loss in Portland. Home record is roughly 5-11.
Injury Reports
Portland Fire: Sarah Ashlee Barker (knee/ACL – out for season), Sania Feagin (knee/ACL – out for season). Carla Leite has been day-to-day/out with a knee issue in recent games. Teja Oblak has had knee concerns (day-to-day in some reports). Amy Okonkwo has had rest notes. Confirm final status.
Seattle Storm: Katie Lou Samuelson (knee – out/day-to-day in recent reports). Flau’jae Johnson (ankle – day-to-day/out recently). Other depth notes have appeared. Dominique Malonga and Natisha Hiedeman have been key available pieces.
Current Rosters (key/notable players)
Seattle Storm: Guards Natisha Hiedeman, Jade Melbourne, Zia Cooke, Flau’jae Johnson, Taina Mair; Forwards Jordan Horston, Katie Lou Samuelson, Mackenzie Holmes, Taylor Thierry; Centers/Forwards Dominique Malonga, Ezi Magbegor, Stefanie Dolson, Awa Fam. Young core with Malonga’s production and Hiedeman’s playmaking.
Portland Fire: Guards Carla Leite, Teja Oblak, Jordan Harrison, Karlie Samuelson, Holly Winterburn, Sarah Ashlee Barker (out); Forwards Bridget Carleton, Emily Engstler, Nyadiew Puoch, Frieda Buhner, Amy Okonkwo, Sania Feagin (out); Centers Megan DiLeo/Gustafson, Luisa Geiselsöder, Serah Williams. Mix of veterans (Carleton) and international/young talent.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Dominique Malonga / Ezi Magbegor (Storm frontcourt) vs. Bridget Carleton / Emily Engstler / Nyadiew Puoch / Megan DiLeo (Fire frontcourt): Malonga’s scoring and rebounding against Portland’s versatile forwards. Interior battle and second-chance opportunities will matter.
Natisha Hiedeman / Jade Melbourne (Storm guards) vs. Carla Leite / Jordan Harrison / Karlie Samuelson (Fire backcourt): Playmaking and perimeter scoring. Leite’s assist numbers (when healthy) vs. Hiedeman’s all-around game.
Broader: Seattle’s home energy and recent snap of the skid vs. Portland’s edge in the season series and ability to score in bunches. Three-point shooting and turnovers could decide a close matchup.
Series History
Portland has dominated the 2026 meetings: wins of 100-93 (Aug. 8 in Portland), 77-72 (July 4 in Seattle), and an earlier Commissioner’s Cup result. This is the fourth meeting of the season between the Pacific Northwest rivals (Portland as expansion side). Seattle is seeking its first win in the series.
GAME ODDS
Portland Fire 180.5
Seattle Storm 2.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, August 13, 2026
