There are four games on a packed Sunday WNBA schedule, including the Seattle Storm trying to stay unbeaten at home as they tangle with Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury at 7:00 p.m. ET. We size up tonight’s odds for that game and more with our best bets and WNBA predictions in the daily "Lady Luck".
CHICAGO SKY AT LOS ANGELES SPARKS (-6, 157.5)
The Sky will try to bounce back after back to back losses (and three defeats over their last four games) as they head to Los Angeles for this 5:00 p.m. ET encounter.
Sparks fans have plenty of reason to be excited after Candace Parker scored 18 points while grabbing 9 boards and getting four steals last Thursday in a 86-74 win over the Aces. Parker has been back for four games after missing the start of the season with a hamstring injury, and after a few rough performances it looks like she's getting back to being the elite player we all know.
With Parker, Chelsea Gray and the Ogwumike sisters, L.A. has plenty of firepower. But their defense has been a weakness, allowing opponents to score 80.6 points per game.
Chicago knows how to score, ranking fourth in the WNBA with 79.3 ppg and second in both field goal (44.6) and free throw (83.5) percentage.
The Sky have averaged 48 first-half points per game over their last three contests. They've also given up at least 50 points in the opening half of their last two games. With the Sparks having scored 40 first-half points in each of their past two games, back the Over on the first half game total.
PICK: First Half Total - Over 79
PHOENIX MERCURY AT SEATTLE STORM (+1.5, 152.5)
Seattle just can't seem to catch a break. Second-leading scorer Jewell Loyd will be out for at least two weeks with a severe ankle sprain. That's yet another loss for the Storm who are already making do without last year's MVP Breanna Stewart and All-Star Sue Bird.
The scoring burden will fall on Natasha Howard (18.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg), but Seattle will need their defense to continue playing at a high level if they want to stay unbeaten at home where they are 5-0.
Seattle is the best defensive team in the league, allowing just 72.1 ppg and their pace is the fourth slowest. They allowed 76 points to Chicago in their last game but before that went three consecutive games where they held opponents to 62 or fewer points. However, they score just 74.1 ppg which ranks 10th and the absence of Loyd will hurt.
The Mercury are just 1-4 on the road this season and prefer playing a half court game that relies on their twin towers of Brittney Griner (17.1 ppg, 7 rpg) and DeWanna Bonner(20.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg). Phoenix plays at the second slowest pace in the WNBA and averages 74.9 ppg.
The Storm are 5-1 to the Under in their last six games and the Mercury are 4-1 to the Under in their previous five contests on the road. Take the Under 152.5.
PICK: Under 152.5
Thursday’s picks: 0-2
Season to date: 27-18
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