The Liberty are hosting the Storm on Monday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, New York is favored by 7.5 points and this game carries a total of 182.5 points.
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Liberty vs. Storm Preview
It has been an up-and-down season for the Liberty, but this well-experienced group is starting to find its rhythm, as New York has won four of its last five. Still, the Liberty are just the No. 8 seed at 17-13 and rank seventh in net rating. The No. 8 seed is the final spot for the playoffs that begin late next month, but New York is a safe bet to make the postseason, as the club holds a five-game lead over the Sparks for that final seed.
With the standings tight, the Liberty are only two games back of the Dream for the No. 4 seed, so the Liberty have a strong chance to move up before the playoffs if they continue to play well. Breanna Stewart is dominating right now, scoring 22+ points in six of her last seven, and Sabrina Ionescu is finally looking like herself again after a brutal start to the season.
The four-time All-Star has produced 27+ points in three of her last four. Satou Sabally remains sidelined without a timetable for return after suffering a concussion last month and if the Liberty could ever get her back in time for the playoffs, New York would be a threat to win its second championship in three years.
Sabally returning is a big if, though, given her scary history with concussions. Nonetheless, Stewart and Ionescu once again look like one of the best pairings in the WNBA and they should continue to thrive against this Storm team that is in a major rut.
Seattle has lost eight straight games and sits at a league-worst 6-25. Ranking 12th of 15 teams in net rating, the Storm are better than their record suggests, but make no mistake, this is still one of the worst clubs in the association.
Natisha Hiedeman and Dominique Malonga lead Seattle with around 16 PPG apiece, and then there are rookies Flau’Jae Johnson and Awa Fam, who both have had strong stretches this season, but are inconsistent options that can struggle mightily on the road, which will be the case tonight in New York.
This young and undisciplined Seattle team is a league-worst 2-14 on the road. The one thing this Storm team can hang its hat on tonight is that they beat the Liberty in the first meeting of the season between these clubs on May 25th in Seattle, 99-88. However, this contest is rather irrelevant, as that is the only game Stewart has missed this season.
The Liberty obviously are a totally different team with the two-time MVP active and with Stewart in the lineup tonight, New York is the clear favorite over Seattle.
Liberty vs. Storm Pick, Best Bet
After losing to the Storm on the road in May, the Liberty should get revenge tonight with a win on their home floor. New York -7.5 is a viable play, but there is some concern, as the Liberty are a league-worst 10-20 ATS.
Over 182.5 points is a better wager to consider. New York is 20-10 for the over this season and the first matchup of the season between these squads generated 187 points.
