The standings in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference have been volatile all season long. The Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky have been no exception.
Atlanta started out of the gate 10-4, crushing defensively and looking like an outer circle contender. Now it lost five of its last seven games, navigating an extremely difficult part of its schedule. It was thoroughly tested for its championship-level worthiness, and has come through battered and bruised.
The Sky were battered at the beginning of the season. After a 3-10 start, the season looked lost. They’ve been playing .500 ball since, fueled by an incredible stretch from Angel Reese.
Still on the outside looking in of the playoff race, it would take a big improvement in the second half for Chicago to sneak in. But with Reese playing like this, who knows how the second half can go?
The Dream are six-point favorites on the road at -258 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 160.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Dream vs. Sky Prediction
The injury report is going to play a significant role in this game. Atlanta will be without All-Star guard Rhyne Howard, a significant loss. But Chicago was dealt a much worse blow, with the news that Reese and Ariel Atkins have been ruled out for Wednesday’s game.
Atlanta already had a significant talent advantage. Allisha Gray has been incredible, and the frontcourt of Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner has worked well. Reese is the only Chicago player with true star power. Kamilla Cardoso is their only good starter who will be in the lineup. Atlanta may be struggling, but talent tends to win out.
Dream vs. Sky Pick
Atlanta Dream -8.5 (-110)
I’m skeptical of this Dream team without Howard in the lineup. Her ability to shoulder a significant load on both ends of the floor cannot be undersold. But they remain a strong team without her, and the Sky are lost without Reese..
Yes, Chicago beat the Lynx recently, something few teams can say. However, the underlying statistics still indicate a subpar offense and a worse defense. That’s only going to be more exacerbated without its top perimeter defender and the league’s best rebounder. This one could get ugly.
