Chicago Sky vs. Seattle Storm Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/29/21
It’s an interconference matchup on the parquet floor as a pair of WNBA teams lock up in the Pacific Northwest. The Chicago Sky are on the road as they travel to face the Seattle Storm in the second game of a two-game set Sunday evening. In the opening game of the two-game set, it was the Sky earning a 73-69 win on the road Friday night to ensure no worse than a split. The Storm have won seven of the last 11 meetings between the teams but Chicago has won both meetings this season with both games coming since the Olympic break. Will the Sky make it three straight wins over Seattle or can the Storm split the two-game series?
Chicago Sky Seeking Third Straight Road Win
Chicago had dropped four of five but has bounced back with two straight road wins after prevailing Friday night here in Seattle. The Sky entered Saturday 13-12 on the year and stand sixth in the WNBA playoff picture, three games clear of the ninth-place Sparks to remain on the right side of the cut line for the postseason. On Friday night, Chicago led by five early only to trail by two after the opening quarter. The deficit was four at the half and they were down as many as eight in the third quarter. Chicago trailed by four after three quarters and by two with four minutes to play before going on a 9-2 run to take a 72-67 lead with 34.5 seconds to play and hung on for the win. The Sky shot 42% from the field, including seven of 23 from three-point range, and held Seattle to 36.8% shooting to help offset 18 turnovers in the contest. Kahleah Copper led Chicago with 26 points in the win.
The Sky is 5th in the league in scoring offense as they muster 82.4 points per contest this season. Chicago is sixth in rebounding (35.8 boards a night) and first in assists by dishing out 21.8 dimes a game. The Sky is average on defense as they are sixth in the league by allowing an average of 80 points a contest. Kahleah Copper is one of five players averaging in double figures for the team with 14.7 points plus 4.6 rebounds a night this season. Candace Parker (12.4 points, 8.4 boards), Astou Ndour-Fall (seven points, 5.1 rebounds) and Ruthy Hebard are solid secondary options. The Sky can also look to Diamond DeShields (10.8 points), Courtney Vandersloot (11.2 points, 9.2 assists), Allie Quigley (14.1 points), Stefanie Dolson, Brittany Boyd-Jones, Azura Stevens, Natasha Mack and Stephanie Watts to contribute for coach James Wade. Chicago is 6th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 43.3% as a team. The Sky are in the middle of the pack in threes per game as they are tied for 5th with 7.1 per contest: they are 7th in three-point shooting at 34.1%. Chicago comes in first at the free throw line this season as they are shooting 85% at the stripe.
Seattle Storm Looking to Split Series at Home
Seattle has seemingly struggled since the Olympic break as they dropped to 2-4 with their second straight defeat Friday night. The Storm entered Saturday 18-9 on the season and stood third in the WNBA playoff picture, two games behind the Sun for the top spot in the standings. On Friday night, Seattle closed the first quarter on an 8-1 run to take a two-point lead. The Storm led by four at the half, by eight after three quarters and by two with four minutes to play before things came apart. Seattle surrendered a 9-2 run to end up down five with under a minute to play and couldn’t dig their way out. The Storm shot only 36.8% from the field, including three of 17 from three-point range, and turned the ball over 17 times in the loss. Breanna Stewart led Seattle with 18 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
The Storm comes into this contest second in the league in scoring offense with an average of 85.3 points per game. Seattle is third in rebounding (36.9 boards per contest) and is second in the league in assists by dishing out 21.3 dimes per night this year. The Storm are 4th in scoring defense as they allow 79.8 points a game so far this year. Breanna Stewart leads the team with 20.3 points and 10 rebounds per contest. Jewell Loyd (18.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists) and Sue Bird (10.6 points, 5.4 assists) are solid secondary options. Coach Noelle Quinn has a solid group to work with as her team can get production from Katie Lou Samuelson, Jordin Canada, Ezi Magbegor, Stephanie Talbot, Kennedy Burke, Epiphanny Prince and Kiana Williams. The Storm are third in the league in field goal percentage as they convert 44.5% of their shots from the floor this year. Seattle is third in the league in three-point field goals made per game (8.8) and first in three-point percentage as they knock down 38.1% percent from beyond the arc. The Storm are above average at the line, ranking third in the league by converting 83.4% of their chances. Mikiah Herbert Harrington is out for the year as she is pregnant.
Pick: Seattle Storm
Seattle has struggled since the Olympic break as perhaps fatigue has gotten the better of their group of Olympians. The Storm is at home here though, which should work in their favor as they are still one of the top teams in the league. Seattle is 8-4 at home with a +3.3 ppg scoring margin this season. Chicago has won two straight on the road and have gone 9-4 with a +5.6 ppg scoring differential in those games. It’s hard to see the Sky beating them twice in a row on the road. Stewart, Bird and Loyd are due to bounce back and deliver a better showing here. Look for Seattle to come up with the victory at home here.
Total: Under
Chicago ended up under the total in the contest Friday night, keeping them under the mark in three of their six games since the Olympic break. The Sky has seen the over go 13-12 on the season entering this game. Seattle has turned in three straight unders and the under has hit in seven of their last 10 games coming into this one. The Storm have seen the under hit in 15 of their 27 games this season. We’ve seen the under hit in three of the last four meetings and the under is 4-2-1 in the last seven matchups. While Friday’s game was 26 points under the mark, this one won’t fall that far under the number but it still ends up short of the total.