The Valkyries are hosting the Mercury on Monday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Golden State is favored by 1.5 points and this game carries a total of 159 points.
Below, I break down the matchup between the Valkyries and Mercury and give a pick for the game.
Valkyries vs. Mercury preview, prediction
The Mercury defeated the Valkyries 86-77 when these clubs met last month, but this time around, Phoenix will be without both Satou Sabally (ankle) and Kahleah Copper (hamstring), who are averaging 19.1 and 16.7 PPG this season, respectively. Monday will mark the third straight game the Mercury have played without these two key players. That being said, Phoenix has played well despite Sabally and Cooper’s absences. In the first game with these players sidelined, the Mercury destroyed the Wings by 30 points. Then, Phoenix kept its foot on the gas and defeated the top seeded Lynx by eight points, which is arguably the Mercury’s best win of the season.
Alyssa Thomas has been playing at a superstar level for the Mercury and all the sudden, she carries the second-best odds to win MVP at +600 on DraftKings Sportsbook. First, Thomas notched a triple-double vs. Dallas and then, she went off for 29 points in the upset over Minnesota. The Mercury are now 14-6 and rank fourth in net rating for the season. Phoenix should be oozing with confidence Monday and is well rested, as the squad hasn’t played since last Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Valkyries just played this past Saturday, losing to the Aces.
The Valkyries are at full strength Monday, but the club has lost three of its last four games. This season, Golden State is 10-10 and the club ranks seventh in net rating. The Valkyries have a very well balanced attack with Kayla Thornton leading the way, who is averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season.
Both Phoenix and Golden State are top-five defensive teams this season, but the Mercury are the better offensive group, ranking fifth in offensive rating, compared to the Valkyries, who rank ninth. With the Mercury having three more days of rest in it’s favor, it’s going to be difficult for Golden State to keep up with Phoenix offensively.
Valkyries vs. Mercury pick, best bet
While the Mercury are down a few key players, they are simply playing better than the Valkyries right now. Furthermore, Phoenix has a massive advantage in rest. While the underdog for this matchup, the Mercury should defeat the Valkyries.
