For the Washington Mystics and the Golden State Valkyries, it’s a new dawn in many respects. Of course, that is stating the obvious for the expansion franchise Valkyries. The Mystics are in a new dawn of sorts as well.
Washington has had just one winning season since its 2019 championship. Gone are the days of Elena Delle Donne and the structure she brought on a night-to-night basis. The last holdovers from the 2019 core are gone, as Washington traded away Ariel Atkins in the offseason. Some excitement has returned as the Mystics are off to a 2-0 start behind the play of Brittney Sykes.
The Valkyries, meanwhile, are here to establish an identity. Head coach Natalie Nakase has emphasized athleticism and versatility on each end of the floor. While it may be a rough season in Golden State, the excitement of a new team papers over all. The goal is to establish a culture and set up for a huge free agency period this offseason.
The Mystics are five-point favorites on the road and are at -230 on the moneyline on the DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 161.5 points. Let’s take a look at the best bets for this contest.
Prediction for Mystics vs. Valkyries
It’s wild to predict the Mystics to go 3-0, but here we are. They’re more exciting than they are good, but they can compete with anyone if Sykes is playing at this level. This is more about the Valkyries being in rough shape.
It’s to be expected. Very few have played together, and many are being asked to step into bigger roles than they’ve ever had in the league. Things will get worse before they get better. They do have veteran Tiffany “Tip” Hayes to steady the ship, but in all likelihood, it’s too many leaks for the 35-year-old to plug up.
Pick for Mystics vs. Valkyries
Washington Mystics -5
Even though they’re on the road facing a raucous Chase Center crowd, the Mystics have the gumption to pull this off and start three for three. Sykes seems to feed off negative energy like all fiery competitors do, and I’m expecting a lot of buckets out of her.
Furthermore, the Valkyries are as motivated to figure out what they have as they are to win games. They’ll run a deep rotation, change lineups often, and see what works regardless of poor results. This Mystics team has things to figure out as well with the new rookies and acquisitions, but they’re more of a sure thing than their opponent.
