Now this game comes with a story. It’s the second edition of Angel Reese vs. her old team, the Chicago Sky. The first time around, Reese dominated as the Dream rolled to victory. Can the Sky get their revenge in the rematch? Or will Atlanta go two-for-two?
Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. ET. The Dream is a 10.5-point home favorite with -550 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Sky upset is priced at +410, with the game total set at O/U 179.5 points.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Sky-Dream game.
Sky vs. Dream Preview
Things are not going well for the Sky. At 9-16, they’re well out of the playoff picture and gearing up for another season in the lottery. The veterans are angry, the youngsters are struggling to develop, and they continue to trade away first-round picks; this year’s selection, currently slated to be the second overall pick, will be going to the Washington Mystics.
But there have been some bright spots. Rookie Sydney Taylor has shown some scoring prowess since she moved to the starting lineup and could be a solution to their longstanding backcourt problems. Kamilla Cardoso has continued to round out her game. Though the trade for Jacy Sheldon was a bit of an overpay, she gets after it defensively on the perimeter and has proven to be a solid starter. There are pieces of a good team here, but it’s going to take some time before things come together.
For the Dream, things are going swimmingly. At 15-10, they’re at the top of the Eastern Conference and in the running for home-court advantage in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. With an incredibly strong two-way identity, the Dream are the kind of team you don’t want to face in the postseason.
They’re also getting closer to solving their biggest problem: depth. Atlanta’s starting lineup is elite, but they’re struggling to get consistent contributions from the bench. But they had a huge return this week: Brionna Jones, an All-Star in each of the last two seasons, made her season debut on Friday night. If they can get Jones back up to speed, it changes things entirely for the bench. It’s not yet clear whether Jones will reclaim her starting spot or Naz Hillmon will continue to start; either way, Atlanta got a whole lot more talented this week, which is scary for the league.
This matchup starts with the frontcourt. Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, formerly frontcourt partners, will do battle in the paint on both ends of the floor. Reese’s rebounding talents can take over a game. Still, Cardoso is the kind of physical presence who can dampen that effect. It’s a lot on Cardoso’s shoulders, but she’s used to that in Chicago. There’s also going to be a lot of pressure on Sheldon to contain Atlanta’s All-Star backcourt of Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. If those two can do yeoman’s work defensively, Chicago has a solid chance of pulling the upset.
Sky vs. Dream Pick, Best Bet
Besides the fact that Atlanta is the better team in almost every facet of the game, I expect Reese to bring infectious energy to this game. It’s no secret she did not enjoy her time in Chicago, and as a player who knows how to hold a grudge, I expect Reese to play with a chip on her shoulder. Last time out, the “Bayou Barbie” put up 17 points with 17 rebounds, and a loud double-double is in order once again. If Reese is her dominant self and her co-stars come along for the ride, the Sky has little chance of stopping them.
