WNBA Saturday: O'Sullivan picks Mystics at Sky, looks forward to Candace Parker vs Tina Charles battle

The WNBA has only one game today, and then tomorrow’s five-game smorgasbord before the league breaks for the Olympics. So consider today’s pick just a taste of victory, while tomorrow will (hopefully) emulate the brilliance (5-1!) I demonstrated last night, and we’ll all feel good about ourselves during the hiatus. Sound like a plan?

Also, don’t you love when a player is scratched an hour before the game? Liz Cambage being out (already with Australia’s national team) last night actually helped my pick. But it was the rare occurrence where that new information went in my favor; usually, it’s (obviously) a deliberate attempt to screw me.

Seattle O’Sullivan so far: 63-52-1

Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky, 8 pm EDT

The Pick: Chicago (-450), Chicago -8.5 (-118)

Chicago’s won eight of its last ten. They lead Washington in every major statistical category except three-pointers made per game. The Sky’s defensive rating (95.5) is second in the WNBA. They’re also at home. Those, readers, are facts. Want theory? Chicago forward Candace Parker will want to demonstrate that she’s on the level of Washington’s MVP candidate Tina Charles. Obviously, Parker knows about my “best player on the court” theory and objects to it. Want to know a secret? Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot, leading the league in assists and steals, may have a claim to that title anyway. Nah, not really – but her steady hand is the key today. I think she keeps the Mystics’ three-pointers in control, and leads the Sky to an easy victory.