The Sky are hosting the Fever on Sunday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Indiana is favored by nine points and this game carries a total of 156.5 points.
Below, I break down the matchup between the Sky and Fever and give a pick for the game.
Sky vs. Fever preview, prediction
While this game was likely circled by both clubs when the WNBA schedules were released earlier this year, this matchup is lacking its usual star power. Caitlin Clark (groin) will miss her fourth game in a row for Indiana and Angel Reese (questionable, back) is in danger of missing her third game in the Sky’s last four. Additionally, Ariel Atkins (leg) will miss her fourth straight contest for Chicago.
While Clark is one of the WNBA’s true superstars, she has missed many games this season and Indiana is used to playing without her. Sunday will be Clark’s 14th missed game of the season and the Fever have been decent with her sidelined with a 6-7 record, including a 27-point win over the Sky in early June that Reese was active for.
Indiana’s offense suffers sans Clark, but Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston both have elevated their games with Clark unavailable. Notably, Mitchell has led the Fever with 21 and 29 points in her last two starts. More importantly, Indiana’s defense has been excellent without Clark, allowing only 77.8 PPG with her inactive. For some perspective, this would rank third in the WNBA if this were the Fever’s average for the season.
Strong defense is Indiana’s calling card with Clark missing and this struggling Sky team is going to have major problems in this matchup, regardless if Reese plays or not. Chicago has been the worst team in the WNBA recently and it’s not even close. The Sky have lost four consecutive games and the team’s margin of defeat has been a massive 27.8 PPG. Even in the lone game during this stretch that Reese suited up for, Chicago lost to the Lynx by 23 points. During this span, the Sky rank dead last in offensive rating, defensive rating and net rating. Chicago’s net rating has been at a laughable -35.3, which is far worse than the Sun at -14.3, who rank second-to-last during this span.
Sky vs. Fever pick, best bet
The Sky are a complete mess right now and even if Reese plays, the Fever should secure a win Sunday, likely with ease. As noted above, Chicago has lost four straight by an average of 27.8 PPG and having home court hasn’t been much of an advantage for the team this season, with the Sky owning a 4-7 record in Chicago.
Via the DraftKings Sportsbook betting splits page, 83% of the handle and 65% of the bets spread-wise for this game are on Fever -9 and tailing the public here is wise.
