In the final matchup of today’s WNBA slate, the Golden State Valkyries host the Seattle Storm. This will mark the first-ever matchup between these organizations, with this being the Valkyries’ inaugural season. Both teams enter with some momentum.
The Seattle Storm enter as 10-point favorites at -520 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. Golden State holds +370 odds of pulling off the upset with the game total set at 154.5.
Storm vs. Valkyries preview
The Seattle Storm have gotten off to a 6-4 start this season. They are riding a three-game winning streak and most recently snapped the Minnesota Lynx’s undefeated start to the year. Seattle averages 81.7 points per game, tied for sixth in the WNBA. They also rank third in field-goal percentage, second in three-point percentage, and third in assists per game. Defensively, opponents are scoring 79.3 points per game against the Storm, the sixth-best rate, and they fall eighth in defensive rating.
Skylar Diggins leads the team in scoring with 17.8 points and also adds a team-high 6.4 assists per game. Nneka Ogwumike pitches in 16.6 points per game and a team-best 8.8 rebounds. Gabby Williams also averages 14.9 point, while Erica Wheeler pitches in 10.8 points per contest with both players shooting 45.8% from beyond the three-point arc.
The Valkyries enter with a 4-5 record on the season but are riding a two-game winning streak over the Aces and Sparks. They average 78.3 points per game, which is the third-worst rate in the league. Despite attempting the most three-point attempts in the WNBA, Golden State is dead last in three-point percentage as well as overall field goal percentage. Opponents are scoring 81.0 points per game against Golden State, and the Valkyries rank seventh in the league in defensive rating.
The first-year team leans on a well-rounded scoring approach with five different players averaging in double figures. Kayla Thornton leads the team with 13.6 points per game along with a team-high 6.9 rebounds. Veronica Burton pitches in 12.8 points per contest and a team-high 5.0 assists. Rookie Janelle Salaun adds 11.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. However, the 6-foot-2 forward is stepping away from the team for a brief stretch to participate in EuroBasket competition and will not be available tonight.
Sparks vs. Valkyries prediction, pick
While the Valkyries should be extremely encouraged by their recent stretch of play, expect a bit of a wake-up call in tonight’s game. The loss of Salaun is notable, especially after she dropped 21 points and eight rebounds in her previous game. Golden State has overachieved to an extent in recent games and this roster shakeup will call for some adjustments.
Seattle is loaded with veterans and will be at full strength for this matchup. The Storm have scored 83 or more points in each of their past three wins and are coming off a 93-point outing in the previous victory over the Lynx. They have scored as many as 102 points in a game already this season.
This level of scoring is a huge concern for the Valkyries. They have not scored more than 81 points in a game all season and have been held to 77 points or fewer in every game without overtime. Ranking dead-last in field goal percentage and three-point percentage, Golden State has not had the best process of generating shots and will need it to limit the Storm’s scoring to have a chance.
Expect Seattle to have too much firepower and for Golden State to be unable to stick with their offensive production. This is a large spread, but for good reason. Three of the six Storm victories have come by 10+ points, while the Valkyries have lost by as many as 28 points already this season. Count on Golden State’s offensive struggles to be even more notable and for the offense to stall a bit following the loss of Salaun. Expect the game to slip away throughout and for Seattle to grab full control by scoring at a rate that cannot be matched.
Count on the Storm adding their fourth victory of the season by 10+ points and covering the spread tonight.
