At the tail end of the WNBA season, playoff hopes can hang in the balance with each game. Such is the case for the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, fighting to stay alive against the Golden State Valkyries.
Washington sits 1.5 games outside of a playoff spot going into Wednesday’s action. After trading away Brittney Sykes, arguably their best player, the chances of jumping into the postseason dropped drastically. But wilder things have happened in this WNBA season. Even if they don’t make it, it’s been an overwhelmingly positive year for Washington’s youth movement, and they could net two lottery picks if things break their way.
It’s been a smashing success of a year for the Valkyries as well. Sitting in the seventh seed, Golden State is looking to become the first WNBA expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season. They’ve taken All-Star Kayla Thornton’s injury in stride. Players like Veronica Burton, Carla Leite, and Cecilia Zandalasini have stepped up to keep their offense running. And don’t forget Tiffany Hayes, who still has the juice in her age-35 season.
The Mystics are two-point favorites at home and hold -135 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 149.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this Valkyries-Mystics contest.
Mystics vs. Valkyries prediction, pick
Despite two distinct paths to get here, the Valkyries and the Mystics rely on similar identities.
Golden State has won with their defense all year long. Head coach Natalie Nakase pushes these players to organize within a tough defensive scheme, and she rewards those who can be proactive on that end with more minutes. It’s led to a competitive hustle culture that can bog down the best offenses. There’s no alpha offensive option on the other end, but they have versatile pieces. You never know who’s going to get hot for Golden State on a given night.
Washington possesses a similar balance, but without Sykes, they have to adjust on the fly. There is an extra burden placed on rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Shakira Austin has to shoulder some increased usage. If they continue to defend, someone has to replace Sykes’s ability to create instant offense on the drive.
The lack of trust I have in both offenses will manifest itself in this one. Last time these two teams faced off, neither could crack 70 points. I expect much of the same in Wednesday’s contest, so the under looks like a great option.
