WNBA Best Bets (July 4): Dream vs. Valkyries, Storm vs. Fire Odds & Picks

Just two games on for the Fourth of July WNBA schedule, as we start early with the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream in a battle of playoff contenders currently heading in opposite directions. While the Valks hope to extend a win streak, Atlanta is looking to stop its skid. Tip time is 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

The nightcap is in Seattle, where the Portland Fire visit the Storm in a 9 p.m. tip. The Fire are 2.5 games off the pace for eighth place and the final playoff spot in the standings, while the Storm are seemingly still trying to find their way. The game can be seen on WNBA League Pass.

(Photo by Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Let's take a look at my best bets for Saturday.

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WNBA Best Bets Today: July 4 Game Odds

Here are the odds for Saturday's games (odds via FanDuel):

Golden State Valkyries at Atlanta Dream

• Spread: Golden State Valkyries +4.5 (-114) | Atlanta Dream -4.5 (-106)
• Moneyline: Golden State Valkyries (+148) | Atlanta Dream (-184)
• Total: O/U 162.5 (-114/-106)

Portland Fire at Seattle Storm

• Spread: Portland Fire +3.5 (-106) | Seattle Storm -3.5 (-114)
• Moneyline: Portland Fire (+138) | Seattle Storm (-170)
• Total: O/U 170.5 (-112/-108)

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WNBA Best Bets Today

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Golden State Valkyries at Atlanta Dream

The Valkyries have won three in a row, including back-to-back wins over this same Dream team, when the two met on June 24 and 26 in San Francisco. The Valks pulled off 11 and three-point wins, and dating back, have won seven of nine. They've also covered five of their last seven, including a 76-67 win over the Commissioner's Cup champion New York Liberty last Sunday. Sitting alone in third place, the Valkyries are hoping to distance themselves from the Liberty.

The Dream are happy to be home after losing all four of a recent road trip. The two in San Francisco are understandable, as the Valkyries are a very good team. But losing by 15 in Seattle raises an eyebrow. They closed the junket with a five-point loss to a scrappy Mystics team in Washington. Since June 24, the Dream have scored the second-fewest points in the league, just 76.8 ppg.

• WNBA Betting Prediction: Golden State +4.5 (-114)

While Atlanta is having trouble with its offense of late, the Valkyries have fine-tuned their defense during a 7-2 SU run, allowing a league-low 74.7 ppg, since June 9. In the same span, they're limiting teams to just 42 percent shooting, also tops in the W. Atlanta has failed to cover its last five games, and if it manages to win, it won't cover.

Portland Fire at Seattle Storm

The Fire will step to the court for the first time since their four-overtime loss to the Mystics in Washington D.C., which happened to be their third-straight loss. As scrappy as Portland can be, it still has one of the worst scoring defenses, allowing 92.3 ppg, second-highest in the league.

My verdict is still out on the Storm, as they have just five wins on the year, but have been impressively better when they're at home. The Storm have won two in a row in Seattle, victories over Eastern Conference powerhouses Atlanta and New York, and in three previous home losses, the margin was a respectable 3.6 points.

• WNBA Betting Prediction: Seattle -3.5 (-114)

It seems right to lay the points in this one, as the Storm are showing signs of life, despite a clunker their last time out, when they were trounced by 23 by the Phoenix Mercury. This is a revenge game of the Pacific Northwest rivals, as the Fire won in Portland by five on June 17. With Seattle's offense coming into form, look for it to grab the win and cover while covering for the fourth time in five games.

Portland Fire at Seattle Storm

Seattle might not make the playoffs, and is arguably one of the three worst teams in the league, but you cannot deny what the offense has been doing in its last four games. And with this game being played in Seattle, you have to expect the Storm to dictate the pace.

The team ranks seventh and eighth in 3-point shooting, with Seattle hitting .348 from beyond the arc and Portland just behind, at .347. Dominique Malonga is averaging 19.5 ppg, during the short stretch, on .533 shooting, including .444 from long range with the few treys she takes. Taking the reins for the Fire of late has been Carla Leite, who is scoring 20.0 ppg, with a .455 clip from 3-point range.

• WNBA Betting Prediction: Over 170.5 (-108)

Since June 22, the Fire and Storm have been two of the five highest-scoring teams. In that span, Portland is scoring the league's second-highest 98.3 points, and those were losses. The Storm, meanwhile, rank fifth wit 95.3 ppg in four games. During the same stretch, Seattle ranks second with a .513 shooting clip, including a league-best .419 from 3-point range.

W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Analyst at Ballislife Bets. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.