The Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces are moving in opposite directions as the WNBA season continues. And there is no end in sight.
The Mercury are 11-4 and poised to challenge for the best record in the Western Conference. The star trio of Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, and Kahleah Copper is finally healthy and beginning to gel. Phoenix could pose a lot of problems for the Lynx and Liberty, the two runaway contenders early in the season, by spoiling their part in the top two.
For the first time in many years, the Aces don’t look like contenders. They’re fighting to hold on to a playoff spot. A’ja Wilson is playing incredible basketball but cannot save this team alone. A big shakeup may come at the trade deadline. Otherwise, it could be a very disappointing season in the desert.
The Mercury are 7.5-point favorites on the road and are -325 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 167 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Aces vs. Mercury Prediction
It’s no wonder that the Mercury are a big favorite at home. Las Vegas struggles on both ends of the floor and has had on-and-off health concerns. The lack of depth has left them looking exhausted towards the end of their games. It’s not a formula that bodes well against a deep Mercury squad.
I don’t feel confident in the Aces right now. They’ve struggled even against teams on their level. Phoenix has proven themselves to be on another level this year. I’m taking the Mercury all the way.
Aces vs. Mercury Pick
Phoenix Mercury -7.5 (-110)
Why not double down? I don’t think this Aces offense will be able to score on the Mercury consistently. They have the perfect personnel to contain Wilson and Co. On top of that, Phoenix’s offense has picked up significantly.
It’s jarring to see the Aces fail to consistently score in the halfcourt, but here we are. It’s even stranger to watch teams break their defense repeatedly. Vegas doesn’t have enough juice to stop Kah, Satou, and AT. It’s a dangerous, versatile group that poses problems for any defense. I think that trio proves overwhelming for Vegas, and the Mercury win this one by double digits.
