I’m not going to comment on Atlanta’s performance yesterday. There’s already enough pain and misery in the world…
Seattle O’Sullivan so far: 42-36-1
Chicago Sky at Connecticut Sun, 2 pm EDT
The Pick: Connecticut +5.5 (-120)
Right now, Chicago is playing better than any team in the WNBA, including Seattle and Las Vegas. They’ve won seven in a row, including two wins over Connecticut. Those wins were in Chicago, however. One was by 10, the other by six; both were hard-fought with the Sky only pulling away in the fourth quarter. (whispers) Home dog alert… Connecticut is 6-1 at home and 5-2 against the spread. These are the best two defensive teams in the league, and even though the Sky/Sun game is not the marquee matchup, I think all the WNBA teams playing today know it’s a big day and will play all out. The game will be hard-fought, with defense taking precedence, and I’ll take the points.
Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces, 4 pm EDT
The Pick: Las Vegas (-140)
This is the matchup we’ve been waiting for the entire month. The two best teams, each coming off stubbing their toes in their last game. The WNBA’s two best offenses. Seattle shoots better from 3; Las Vegas rebounds better. They’re both terrific squads and fun to watch. Down low is where Las Vegas has a real advantage. Aces center Liz Cambage is simply too big for Storm counterpart Mercedes Russell. One of the few centers in the league who matches Cambage’s size is Minnesota Lynx big-woman Sylvia Fowles…who dropped 30 on Cambage in Friday’s toe-stubbing. I think not only are the Aces up for this game (Seattle will be too), they’re at home and Cambage has something to prove.
Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury, 6 pm EDT
The Pick: Phoenix (-270)
For Phoenix, this will be the first game with Diana Taurasi back. Taurasi, who has been out for six weeks with a small fracture in her sternum, will help the Mercury not only statistically but mentally. Without her, the Mercury have been unreliable. I think Taurasi’s first game at home, and strangely enough again, the fact that Seattle and Las Vegas will have just played before a large audience will be uplifting for Phoenix. While I like Los Angeles’ scrappy defense enough to stay away from laying 6.5, I can’t see the Sparks holding back this all-time great enough so she loses in her return. I’ll sacrifice a little value for the straight win.