The New York Liberty are here to defend their spot on the mountaintop. The Chicago Sky are trying to find their way back.
Perhaps no team boasts more star talent than the Liberty. Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones is arguably the best star trio you can find. The latter two have already claimed MVP awards, and it would surprise nobody to see Ionescu claim one someday.
New York also boasts excellent depth. Natasha Cloud is an exceptional defender and versatile all-around player. Leonie Fiebich knows how to play her three-and-D role to a T. Marine Johannes is a certified Does Cool Stuff player. They’ll certainly feel the absence of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, a key to their title run, but they have a roster that can sustain that kind of loss.
Meanwhile, the Sky seek an identity four years after their last title. That identity, on and off the floor, is Angel Reese. Already a superb rebounder and strong interior presence on defense, head coach Tyler Marsh is attempting to run the offense through Reese. It’s going to take some adjustment in the interim, but they’ve identified her as the franchise player and will focus on developing her two-way game.
The Liberty are 11-point favorites on the road and are -650 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 162.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Prediction for Liberty vs. Sky
I expected an adjustment period for the Liberty without Betnijah Laney-Hamilton — a short one, to be fair, but an adjustment. Instead, they’ve hit the ground running and Natasha Cloud looks like an instant hit. The same cannot be said for the Sky.
Ariel Atkins was a significant acquisition, and Courtney Vandersloot brings a steadying presence. Moving from a position of weakness is a more complicated adjustment process than moving from a position of strength. While I believe in the vision the Sky are building, it will take them a while to get there.
Pick for Liberty vs. Sky
New York Liberty -11 (-110)
Given the state of these Sky, I doubt they can hang with a Liberty team ready to defend their title. The bumps and bruises of adjusting to a new offense can’t be overstated. Players are figuring out their roles and spots in the pecking order on the fly. That’s going to take quite a while.
Even if they had figured out things, the Liberty’s elite trio would roll them over. Their swarm of size, athleticism, and defense is too much for most teams to handle on a given night. This Sky team looking to establish a ground-and-pound identity should prove no match for the reigning champs.
