The Storm are hosting the Mystics on Sunday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Seattle is favored by seven points and this game carries a total of 156.5 points.
Below, I break down the matchup between the Storm and the Mystics and give a pick for the game.
Storm vs. Mystics preview, prediction
The Storm and Mystics face off for the first time this season Sunday. This season, the Storm are 13-8 and rank sixth in net rating, while the Mystics are 10-10 and rank ninth in net rating. Both teams have no notable injuries for this matchup, but Washington has a slight advantage in rest, as the Mystics haven’t played since Thursday, while the Storm just defeated the Sun on Friday.
Seattle is led by Skylar Diggins in the backcourt, who is averaging 18.2 points and 5.9 assists per game. Up front for the Storm, Nneka Ogwumike is having another terrific season, averaging 17.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Diggins and Ogwumike are one of the top pairings in the WNBA and rightfully so, both players were recently selected to the All-Star game.
On the other side of this matchup, Brittney Sykes is having the best season of her career, averaging a career-high 17.5 PPG for the Mystics and Shakira Austin is having a breakout campaign. Since moving into Washington’s starting lineup nine games ago, the former No. 3 overall pick is leading the Mystics with 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Austin especially makes a major impact on the defensive end. With her starting for the last nine games, Washington ranks second in defensive rating and the club is 6-3 during this stretch, including a win over the top-seeded Lynx.
The Mystics need Austin’s elite defense to slow down Ogwumike and if Austin can do so, Washington will have a great chance Sunday. The problem is that the Mystics have struggled on the road this season with a 3-7 record and conversely, the Storm have been strong at home with a 7-3 record.
Storm vs. Mystics pick, best bet
The Storm should defend home court and pick up a win Sunday, but it likely won’t be an easy victory. As mentioned above, the Mystics are a vastly improved team with Austin starting, especially defensively and this game has the potential to be a low-scoring nail-biter. While Washington is just 10-10 ATS this season, backing the Mystics at +7 is the best way to attack this tilt.
