WNBA Wednesday: O'Sullivan picks Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty, with Sami Whitcomb out for New York

I had it. I had it, I had it, I had it. The “middle,” the precious “middle.” Atlanta cut it to five against Chicago with 44.7 seconds…It was so close…Down seven, the Dream miss two shots to cover…Right there, within my reach. The “middle.” The “middle!”

Gaaahhhh! (falls to knees) “Miiiiddd-ddllle!”

(stands up; dusts self off; eye roll) I’m an idiot.

Seattle O’Sullivan so far: 87-75-1

Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty, 7 pm Eastern

The Pick: Phoenix (-250), Phoenix -5.5 (-118)

Okay, this is me being a big person and admitting when I’m wrong, but…Phoenix has been playing quite well of late. They’ve won four in a row and six of their last seven. They’re also 6-1 against the spread during that stretch. The Mercury is also quite hot on the road: 6-2 (and 7-1 against the spread). New York has lost five of six and is 1-5 against the spread during that stretch. As I mentioned yesterday, the Mercury are now right behind the Lynx for the four-seed in the playoffs. To me, the news that tips me to throwing my support behind Phoenix is the injury to New York guard Sami Whitcomb, out two weeks with an ankle sprain. Whitcomb is an underrated trustworthy strength of the Liberty; they’ll miss her. So again, I’ll be a magnanimous person here, and put aside my antipathy for the Mercury in order to make some cash. Heavier on the moneyline, cover is gravy.