This WNBA season has already separated the haves from the have-nots. The Atlanta Dream are firmly part of the former group, and the Dallas Wings a part of the latter.
Atlanta sits at 10-4 and can challenge the Liberty for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rhyne Howard-Allisha Gray backcourt has worked like a charm. Brionna Jones has been a massive addition alongside Brittney Griner. This formula has taken Atlanta from 12th in offense this past season to second this year. It could be a real contender this season.
The Wings have a ways to go. Paige Bueckers has been excellent out of the gate, well worth the No. 1 pick. The rest needs work. Arike Ogunbowale, a franchise staple, has stepped back with Bueckers’ presence. They’ve lost their size and defensive presence. The goal now is to figure out what fits around Bueckers as the Wings careen towards another lottery appearance.
The Dream are 7.5-point favorites on the road and are -395 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 168.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Wings vs. Dream Prediction
The gulf between these teams is quite large. Atlanta has multiple All-Star-level players, legitimate defensive anchors, and a cohesive identity. Currently, Dallas can only go as far as Paige Bueckers can take them.
That’s not a slight on Bueckers. She’s headed towards an All-Star and Rookie of the Year campaign. But this Wings crew is far from a true calling card, even as the offense picks up. Atlanta should take care of business in this one.
Wings vs. Dream Pick
Atlanta Dream -7.5
Even on the road, this should be an easy victory for the Dream. The real question is how much they can win by.
Their defense has the potential to be suffocating on a night-to-night basis. Howard and Gray will be chasing around Bueckers and Ogunbowale all night. Griner will be patrolling the paint to shut down any rim attempts. It’s a tough equation for this fledgling Dallas team to solve.
Then you have Dallas’ leaky defense. It doesn’t have the personnel to stop Atlanta’s backcourt. It don’t have the frontcourt defenders to handle Brionna Jones. And nobody, save for Li Yueru, can keep Brittney Griner from inhaling as many offensive rebounds as she wants.
This is a bad matchup for a bad the Wings, and should result in a blowout win for the Dream.
