The Valkyries are hosting the Wings on Monday night. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Golden State is favored by 6.5 points and this game carries a total of 162.5 points.
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Valkyries vs. Wings Preview
The Valkyries and Wings are on opposite trajectories right now. Golden State is the No.2 seed at 24-9 and the club is 8-2 in it’s last 10, including five in a row. Dallas, on the other hand, is 3-7 in it’s last 10 and has fallen to the No.8 seed at 20-15. That is the final spot for the playoffs, but the Wings still hold a five-game lead over the Tempo for that seed, so Dallas looks like a lock to make the postseason with only eight games remaining, despite the team’s recent struggles.
This will be the third time the Valkyries and Wings have gone head-to-head this season and Golden State won the first two matchups rather easily. First on June 17th, 91-80, and then on August 7th, 94-76.
In that more recent matchup, Azzi Fudd (knee) was sidelined for the Wings, which will be the case again tonight. The No.1 pick has been terrific on both ends of the floor and she comfortably leads Dallas in plus minus this season. The Wings’ net rating is 10.1 points per 100 possessions worse with Fudd off the floor than with her on and with her sidelined for the last four, Dallas is 1-3 and the club ranks second-to-last net rating. Fudd’s absence was especially felt in that blowout loss to Golden State on August 7th.
The Valkyries shot 47% from the field and scored 94 points that night, which is well above their season average of 83.5 PPG. Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams both thrived, leading the team with 22 and 19 points, respectively. On top of Dallas’ defense getting shredded with Fudd sidelined, the Wings’ offense also struggled vs. the Valkyries’ No.1 rated defense.
Dallas was held to just 76 points on 34% shooting. Paige Bueckers was underwhelming by her standards with just 17 points and Jessica Sheppard and Arike Ogunbowale really struggled, scoring just six and five points, respectively.
Bueckers can’t do everything and she needs one of Sheppard or Ogunbowale to step up with Fudd out if the Wings want any chance of beating the Valkyries. Its hard to have confidence in either Sheppard or Ogunbowale, though, with Golden State’s stout defense on the other side and with the Valkyries being the host for this matchup. This season, Golden State is a league-best 14-4 at home. Conversely, Dallas is just 10-9 on the road.
Valkyries vs. Wings Pick, Best Bet
With Fudd out, the Valkyries should easily win this game and backing them to cover this 6.5-point spread is a no brainer.
Golden State beat Dallas by 18 points with Fudd inactive two weeks ago and the Wings are just 1-3 with Fudd sidelined for the last four with all those losses being by at least 11 points.
