Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings Preview, Prediction and Odds - 7/2/21
It’s an interconference clash on the WNBA parquet floor in the Lone Star State. The Chicago Sky are on the road as they close a two-game series with the Dallas Wings Friday night. In the first game of the two-game set on Wednesday night, it was the Sky taking a 91-81 victory on the road to ensure no worse than a split. The Sky have won three straight meetings between the teams and seven of the last eight contests entering this one. Will Chicago maintain their recent hot stretch or can the Wings rise above them to earn a split of the two-game series?
Chicago Sky Looking for Two-Game Sweep
Chicago bounced back from a loss to Connecticut to drop Dallas in the first game of this two-game series to win for the eighth time in nine games. The Sky entered Thursday 10-8 on the season and held the fourth playoff spot in the WNBA playoff picture, three games behind the league-leading Storm and Aces. Chicago led the entire way, jumping to a 30-11 lead after one quarter, and never looked back Wednesday night. The Sky led by as many as 30 in the second quarter and weren’t seriously challenged in the second half en route to the win. Chicago shot 47.9% from the field, including 10 of 23 from three-point range, and held a 38-37 advantage on the glass in the win. Kahleah Copper paced seven players in double figures for the Sky with 17 points and seven rebounds.
The Sky is 7th in the league in scoring offense as they muster 81.5 points per contest this season. Chicago is fifth in rebounding (36.7 boards a night) and third in assists by dishing out 20.6 dimes a game. The Sky is good on defense as they are second in the league by allowing an average of 77.7 points a contest. Kahleah Copper is one of five players averaging in double figures for the team with 14.1 points plus 5.1 rebounds a night this season. Candace Parker (12 points, 8.5 boards), Astou Ndour-Fall (9.1 points, 6.8 rebounds) and Ruthy Hebard (8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds) are solid secondary options. The Sky can also look to Diamond DeShields (12.1 points), Courtney Vandersloot (11.6 points, 8.7 assists), Allie Quigley (12 points), Stefanie Dolson, Brittany Boyd-Jones, Azura Stevens, Natasha Mack and Stephanie Watts to contribute for coach James Wade. Chicago is 7th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 42.1% as a team. The Sky are near the bottom of the pack in threes per game as they are 9th with 6.8 per contest: they are 8th in three-point shooting at 34.2%. Chicago comes in first at the free-throw line this season as they are shooting 86.4% at the stripe.
Dallas Wings Hoping to Bounce Back
Dallas had won two straight and three of four before being basically run off the floor by the Sky in the first game of this two-game set. The Wings entered Thursday 8-9 overall and they were seventh in the WNBA playoff picture, half a game ahead of ninth-place Washington to remain on the right side of the playoff cut line. Dallas was blasted out of the gate, giving up the first five points of the game, and never recovered. The Wings were down 19 after the opening quarter, by 30 in the second quarter and by 22 at the half. Dallas never made a charge in the second half, failing to get closer than seven in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. They promptly gave up a 10-1 run over the next five minutes to trail by 16 and that was it. Dallas shot 41.3% from the field, including six of 25 from three-point range, and turned the ball over 17 times in the loss. Isabelle Harrison led the Wings with 23 points, eight rebounds and four steals in the loss.
The Wings come into this one third in the league in scoring with 84.4 points per game this season. Dallas is first in rebounding (37.8 boards per contest) but rank 9th in the league in assists with 17.8 per game. The Wings are struggling defensively, ranking 7th by allowing 81.5 points per contest. Arike Ogunbowale (20.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists) is one of four players scoring in double figures for the Wings this season. Allisha Gray (10.9 points), Marina Mabrey (14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists), Isabelle Harrison (nine points, 5.9 rebounds) and Kayla Thornton (8.3 points, 5.9 rebounds) are all capable scoring options as well. Charli Collier, Tyasha Harris, Chelsea Dungee, Awak Kuier, Moriah Jefferson, Satou Sabally (12.8 points, 5.8 boards), Dana Evans and Bella Alarie all can be looked to for minutes for coach Brian Agler. The Wings are eighth in the league in field goal percentage as they hit 42.1% as a team. Dallas is fourth in three-pointers per game (8.5) and stand fifth in the league in three-point shooting as they hit 35.5% from long range. The Wings are third in free throw shooting as they convert 84% of their chances at the stripe.
Pick: Chicago Sky
We saw Chicago’s offensive attack return to form in the first game of this two-game series as they posted 91 points after being held to a season-low 58 by Connecticut in their previous contest. The Sky have plenty of weapons to work with, especially with the return of Ndour-Fall, who played only two minutes in her return from representing Spain in EuroBasket. Chicago has been clicking once Quigley and Parker returned to the rotation, making them that much more dangerous. Dallas saw their defensive woes come back to bite them in the contest against the Sky after they seemed to make positive strides of late. With the way Chicago is playing offensively, you have to give them the advantage in this contest as they sweep the series.
Total: Over
We saw the game Wednesday night end up over the total as the teams combined for 172 points, which went over the 166.5-point total that was set for the contest. On the season, Chicago has seen the over hit in nine of their 18 games entering this one. Dallas, despite their big offensive numbers, have seen the under hit in 10 of their 17 games with one push on the books. Still, we’ve seen the over hit in four of the last five meetings and eight of the last 11 matchups have gone over the mark. Chicago has been effective on the offensive end of the floor, scoring at least 81 points in their eight wins in the last nine games and going over 90 points six times. Look for this one to wind up over the total as well.
