The Storm are hosting the Wings on Monday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Dallas is by 9.5 points and this game carries a total of 169.5 points.
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Storm vs. Wings Preview
This will be the second time this season that the Storm and Wings have faced each other and in the first matchup, Dallas cruised to a 79-56 win on it’s home floor on June 1st. As this lopsided score suggests, these two Western Conference clubs are having quite opposite seasons. The Wings are 10-4 and rank fourth in net rating while the Storm are 3-14 and rank 14th in net rating.
For Dallas, Paige Bueckers is having a strong sophomore season, averaging 18.7 points and 6.1 assists per game on 50% shooting, and Jessica Sheppard is having a career-best campaign, averaging a double-double of 14.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game while shooting 58% from the field. Also, No.1 pick Azzi Fudd has been a great fit with the Wings. The rookie is averaging 12.7 PPG on 49% shooting and defensively, she is averaging 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
Fudd leads Dallas in plus/minus and since inserting her into the starting lineup on May 28th, the Wings are 6-3, including that blowout win over the Storm and two wins over the defending champion Aces. With Bueckers, Sheppard and Fudd at the helm, Dallas is a team that should continue to improve as the season progresses and a club that could make a deep playoff run.
On the other side, the Storm have been ice cold recently, losing 10 straight games, which is easily the longest active losing streak in the league. Seattle’s main issue is it’s offense, as the club ranks dead last in offensive rating this season. Natisha Hiedman and Dominique Malonga are the Storm’s leading scorers, averaging around 15 PPG apiece, but Seattle’s next best option is rookie Flau’jae Johnson, who is scoring 11.4 PPG while shooting just 33.4% from the field.
To make matters worse, the Storm are dealing with some injuries tonight, as Jordan Horston (foot) is out and Jade Melbourne (foot) is questionable. The one thing working in Seattle’s favor is the team will be at home and Dallas is just 4-4 on the road this season. Still, the Storm are just 2-6 at home and they haven’t won a game in nearly a month, so them keeping pace with the Wings feels very unlikely.
Storm vs. Wings Pick, Best Bet
While the Wings have had some issues on the road this season, picking against them in this matchup vs. the Storm would be foolish.
Dallas is the far superior team over Seattle and the Wings should cover this 9.5-point spread. When favorited this season, Dallas is 5-3 ATS.
