Down the stretch of the WNBA season, the intensity ramps up in a major way. The Indiana Fever are in the midst of a heated battle for playoff seeding, while the Chicago Sky are clinging to dwindling hopes of a playoff berth. This one is going to be intense.
The Fever enter as 5.5-point road favorites with -225 Moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Sky are +185 underdogs, with the game total set at 192.5 points.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Fever-Sky matchup.
Fever vs. Sky Prediction, Preview
These two squads have only matched up once this season, but what a game that was. In a Commissioner’s Cup matchup in June, Indiana survived by the skin of their teeth, winning 114-106 in overtime.
For the Chicago Sky, that truly felt like the Sydney Taylor breakout game. The rookie poured in 30 points from the bench on 10-of-14 shooting, and her tough shot-making was the only thing keeping the Sky in the game. Skylar Diggins did her job with 21 points, and the game carried certain foreshadowing; Diggins is now a regular DNP as she works through issues with management, while Taylor is starting and thriving.
Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston were the answer for the Fever in that win. Clark was the perimeter engine, putting up 32 points along with seven rebounds and 10 assists. Boston dominated both ends in the paint, getting 34 points of her own along with 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks. It was more than enough to carry the team offensively, though the Fever left much on the table defensively.
To pull the upset this time, priority one, two, and three for the Sky is to stop the Clark-Boston connection. Rookie Gabriela Jaquez often takes on the toughest perimeter matchups for the Sky and will have to do better against Clark this time around. If you pressure her enough, she is turnover-prone and will get frustrated. But she also needs some help from her defensive partner in the paint, Kamilla Cardoso. Aliyah Boston’s former University of South Carolina teammate has done battle with AB many times and will have to be better this time around.
Of course, Sydney Taylor will play a significant role here. The undrafted free agent has been a godsend for Chicago’s dysfunctional offense, giving them a reliable possession-to-possession outlet when things break down. Indiana’s defense hasn’t covered itself in glory this year, and points will be there for Taylor if she wants them.
Indiana’s goal is to replicate its offensive performance while raising defensive intensity. They’re not going to get a lot of defensive production from the backcourt, but it can’t just be the Aliyah Boston show on defense. Monique Billings hasn’t made the impact that Indiana hoped for. Sophie Cunningham’s reputation as a defender has far outpaced her production, and her scoring isn’t keeping her on the floor as of late. The reality for Indiana is the same it’s been all season long: everyone, save for Aliyah Boston, has to do better.
Now that we know these teams a bit better, who is going to pull out the win, and how should we bet on this game?
Fever vs. Sky Pick, Best Bet
One thing is certain: these two teams will rack up the points when they face off. Indiana has the best offense in league history in terms of offensive rating, but they’re 19-12 for a reason: the defense has not kept pace. We’re also going to see a lot from Caitlin Clark, who puts up massive stat lines when facing teams outside the playoff picture. Indiana’s defense won’t make it easy, but they’ll be able to wrangle another high-scoring win behind their star point guard.
