Sunday’s WNBA slate is loaded with exciting games that have huge playoff implications. The Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm, tied for the fifth seed at 16-12, have a lot to play for.
The Fever have masterfully navigated Caitlin Clark’s absence. Riding a four-game winning streak, they’ve positioned themselves to compete for home-court advantage in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. With no return date set for Clark, they’ll have to play as if their superstar won’t return this season. So far, they’ve performed admirably.
The Storm has struggled with inconsistency all season. They have great star talent, breakout players, and depth. Somehow, none of that has added up to sustained winning.
The Storm are 2.5-point favorites at home and hold -142 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 162 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this Fever-Storm contest.
Fever vs. Storm prediction, pick
The Storm’s schedule after the All-Star break was supposed to be a gift. Dallas, Chicago, Washington, Connecticut, and Los Angeles were all below .500 when Seattle faced them. A 4-1 stretch could have put them into the second spot in the playoff standings; instead, they went 2-3 and have not separated from the pack at all.
Meanwhile, Indiana has been beating the teams it should, while passing some big tests sans Clark. Its four-game winning streak includes huge victories over the Aces and the Mercury. Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston have been an incredible tandem, and the role players hold it together on both ends of the floor. Even without CC, this is a dangerous Fever squad.
Sometimes these games come down to confidence. The talent gap is large without Clark out there, yet Indiana looks like the better team. I’m riding the hot hand on the road.
