The Chicago Sky look to exact revenge and fight to maintain the best record in the WNBA when they again visit the Indiana Fever, who won 89-87 on June 19.
What followed was a five-game winning streak for the Sky (15-6), who had that snapped by the Minnesota Lynx, 81-78, on Wednesday.
Sky WNBA Defending Champion
Chicago is not only the defending champions but leading the Eastern Conference a game and a half over Connecticut. The Fever (5-18) have a young core they are looking to build together.
Though on a five-game losing streak since the aforementioned victory against the Sky, the Fever are finding a budding star in NaLyssa Smith alongside veteran Kelsey Mitchell.
WNBA odds show the Sky are favored by nine points. The over/under is listed at 169. Betting on the Sky moneyline (-475) would take a significant bet to even profit $100, but a Fever win at +355 like their last outing would be lucrative.
Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever
Chicago Sky Stats Breakdown
The Sky have been one of the best teams in the league due to their offense, and it’s the ideal women’s basketball team for youngsters to learn from.
They are second in scoring at 85.6 points per game and are the most efficient team. They are first in field goal percentage, converting 47.3% of shots, 3-point percentage (36.8%), and free throw percentage (84.2%).
Chicago should be at full strength barring a surprise entry onto the injury report. There has been some turnover from their championship team, but the core of veterans remains.
Veterans Analysis
- Kahleah Copper paces the team at 14.3 points per game, one of six in double figures. Candace Parker is averaging 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
- Newcomer Emma Meesseman is third, and fellow newcomer Azura Stevens is sixth. Point guard Courtney Vandersloot continues to play at a high level, averaging a team-best 6.4 assists per game.
They’ve held it together defensively, too, ranking fifth while allowing 80.0 points per game.
They also limit opponents to a 32.3% conversion rate on 3-pointers, the best perimeter effort in the league. Opponents convert 43.0% from the field, ranking fourth.
Indiana Fever Stats Breakdown
The Fever have struggled but are still only 5.5 games out of a playoff spot in such a competitive league. However, they have a long way to improve.
Fever’s Defense
Indiana is the worst defensive team, allowing 88.4 points per game and allow teams to have the best conversion rate against them, collectively shooting 46.9% from the field.
That includes a 35.9% 3-point percentage, which ranks 10th defensively. There is promise offensively, though. The Fever have the fifth-best 3-point percentage, converting 34.5% of attempts.
Fever Lineup Analysis
They only score 77.9 points per game, the third-worst rank in the league, and convert at the worst rate from the field (40.5%) and the free-throw line (74.1%).
Mitchell, 26, is averaging a team-high 18.6 points and 4.0 assists per game. Alongside her is Smith, a Baylor product, who is averaging 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a 6 foot 4 rookie. Victoria Vivians is the only other player in double figures, scoring 11.2 per contest.
Fellow rookies:
- Queen Egbo (illness) is out indefinitely
- Lexie Hull (wrist) is questionable.
Sky vs. Fever Betting Trends
- The Sky is 10-11 against the spread and 10-10-1 on over/under
- The Fever are 7-16 against the spread and 12-10-1 on over/under
- Chicago has won six of the last seven meetings straight up, dating back to 2020
- The Fever, however, have covered four straight games, beginning on June 12, 2021
- The over has hit in six straight meetings
Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever Predictions
When betting on basketball, the Sky should be victorious as heavy favorites, but it would take more for a larger profit when taking their moneyline.
WNBA Betting Pick for Today
WNBA picks will be popular for the Sky. It is noteworthy that the Fever have played the Sky closer of late, despite being one of the worst teams in the league. Unlike the previous matchup, Parker should be good to go for the Sky, another reason to favor them against the spread.
WNBA Pick: -9 (-110)
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