The Valkyries are hosting the Wings on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Golden State is favored by 11.5 points and this game presents a total of 159.5 points.
Below, I break down the matchup between the Valkyries and the Wings and give a pick for the game.
Valkyries vs. Wings preview, prediction
The No. 6 seeded Valkyries are fighting to hang onto a playoff spot with the regular season concluding next week and the club has won four straight games, including a nine-point win over the Wings. With a 12-6 record since the All-Star break, Golden State ranks fourth in net rating over this time. Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini have been leading the team in scoring, but the Valkyries use a very balanced attack and the club hangs it’s hat on the defensive end.
Tiffany Hayes (knee) is out tonight – she averages 11.7 PPG this season – but Golden State has won four in a row since Hayes got hurt and the team is 9-4 with her inactive this season. So, Hayes being sidelined is no cause for concern for the Valkyries tonight, especially with a weak Wings team on the other side.
Dallas sits dead last in standings and since the All-Star break, the club is 3-15 and ranks second-to-last in net rating. Arike Ogunbowlae (knee) continues to be sidelined and likely has played her last game this season. The veteran is averaging 15.5 PPG this season, which ranks second for Dallas, trailing only rookie phenom Paige Bueckers.
The UConn product is averaging 18.9 points and 5.3 assists per game this season, and is the unanimous pick for Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, Bueckers has been dealing with a calf injury recently that has clearly affected her play, as Bueckers hasn’t scored more than 17 points in four straight starts. Maddy Seigrist has stepped up with Ogunbowlae sidelined, averaging 15.7 PPG since the All-Star break, but her and Buekcers’ efforts haven’t been enough to make the Wings competitive.
Dallas did defeat the Valkyries back in June, but much has changed since then, and the Valkyries won the next two matchups between these clubs, by 10 and nine points.
Valkyries vs. Wings pick, best bet
The highly motivated Valkyries should easily defeat the struggling Wings tonight, especially with this game being in Golden State. The Valkyries are 13-7 at home this season, whereas Dallas is just 4-16 on the road.
Golden State is a strong 25-14-1 ATS this season and the team is a great bet to cover this 11.5-point spread.
