The Wings are hosting the Sky on Sunday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Dallas is favored by 9.5 points and this game carries a total of 178.5 points.
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Wings vs. Sky Preview
The Wings are 2-0 vs. the Sky this season and Dallas is coming off an impressive five-game road trip, in which the club went 4-1 with that lone loss coming against the Lynx, who lead the WNBA in net rating this season. The Wings are 15-8 and rank fourth in net rating this season. Star guard Paige Bueckers is the team’s centerpiece and she has been sensational as of late.
Bueckers is on the heels off a 34-point performance vs. the Tempo on Friday and she has provided 22+ points in six of her last seven. With this recent surge, Bueckers now carries the second-best odds to win MVP on DraftKings Sportsbook at +750.
Jessica Sheppard has been an excellent fit alongside Bueckers with the former averaging 14.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in her first season with the Wings. Dallas is back home tonight after it’s impressive road trip and the Wings have been excellent on their home floor this season with a 6-3 record and ranking second in home net rating.
While the Wings ascend, the Sky have had a lackluster season. The team is 7-15 and ranks ninth in net rating. Chicago relies on it’s front-court of Kamila Cardoso and Azura Stevens, and guard Skylar Diggins, when she is available. However, the veteran will miss her third game in a row tonight with a knee injury and these absences conveniently come after Diggins went on social media to complain that she was being moved to the bench by the Sky’s coaching staff.
While Diggins is a seven-time All-Star, this is her 12th year in the league at 35-years-old and she has been weak on defense this season, resulting in her ranking second-to-last in plus/minus for Chicago. The Sky’s net rating is -7.2 with her on the floor, but that number improves to +1.4 with her off.
Plus, Chicago is 2-1 with Diggins inactive, so there is certainly logic to her moving to the bench, regardless of her history. With Diggins missing, veteran Natasha Cloud will start and rookie Sydney Taylor will see more opportunities. Getting the 25-year-old more usage definitely played a big factor in moving Diggins to the bench and Taylor has provided 16 and 15 points in these past two with Diggins inactive. In these contests, the Sky beat the Mercury by 11 points and lost to the Sparks by 15 points.
Chicago may be better off with Diggins sidelined, but this is still a weak team and defeating the Wings on their home floor tonight certainly will be a challenge.
Wings vs. Sky Pick, Best Bet
The Wings are on a roll right now and they shouldn’t slow down back at home tonight. Dallas is going to win this game and backing the Wings -9.5 has merit, but they are just 12-11 ATS this season.
Dallas, however, has been consistent at hitting the under, especially at home with a 7-2 record. Combine this with the Sky’s improved defense sans Diggins and this game should fall short of it’s 177.5-point total.
