With the Olympic Games in the rearview mirror, the stretch run to the playoffs picks up in the WNBA as the Phoenix Mercury visit the Chicago Sky. This Top 8 battle has visiting Phoenix tabbed as a 3-point favorites in the WNBA odds.
Who will get the jump in this Mercury vs. Sky matchup as the season resumes? Check out my free Mercury vs. Sky predictions and WNBA picks for Thursday, August 15.
Mercury vs Sky predictions
My best bet
Under 164.5 (-110 at DraftKings)
My analysis
Phoenix Mercury stars Kahleah Copper, Brittney Griner, and Diana Taurasi return home after helping USA to a win over host France in the gold medal game at the Olympics. Copper — second in the W in scoring at 23.2 points per game — had a meaningful role for the Americans, particularly in the final, where Griner barely played and Taurasi was a DNP-CD.
How they get their feet back under them after the Olympic experience will play a huge part in Phoenix’s quest to chase down a Top-4 spot in the league and home court in the first round of the playoffs. They enter Thursday in sixth place, four games back of fourth-place Seattle with Vegas in-between them.
The Chicago Sky is by far the better-rested team with no Olympians on the roster, which could give them an advantage. However, they are just 4-8 on their home court this season.
They’re led in scoring by guard Chennedy Carter, putting up 17.2 points per game on a crisp 51.8% shooting from the field. She’s flanked by all-star and ROY candidate Angel Reese, who is scoring 13.5 points per game while pulling down 11.9 rebounds per, second in the league. Reese is a big part of Chicago’s strength is inside, where it leads the WNBA in points in the paint (42.8 per game) while ranking Top 4 in second-chance points.
Phoenix is a Top-4 scoring unit, putting up 83.8 points per game, but rank 10th in scoring D, with opponents hanging 85.8 points on them. That’s the opposite of the Sky, who rank in the top half of points allowed at 81.2 but sag to 10th in scoring at 79 points per game. That includes a lowly 31.4% clip from deep on a league-low 14.5 3-point attempts per game. Every other team attempts at least 17.5 triples per contest.
This one has the potential to look like two rusty teams that haven’t played WNBA hoops in a month. And that would play right into the total, which has gone Under in eight of the last 10 head-to-head matchups.
Mercury vs Sky same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 164.5
Angel Reese Under 13.5 points
Kahleah Copper Over 24.5 points
Reese has been a rebounding dynamo, though her scoring touch is still a work in progress. The 6-foot-3 forward is shooting just 40.2% for the season.
During this run of 18 straight games of 10+ rebounds, Reese has shot under 41% in those games 10 times. Throw in the fact she’ll be seeing the 6-foot-9 Grimes in the paint on almost all her touches, and Reese could be in tough tonight.
Let’s wrap up this SGP with Copper, who will be facing her former team for the first time since being dealt in the offseason in what still feels like a shocker of a deal. The trade netted Chicago four draft picks and forwards Brianna Turner and Michaela Onyenwere, two players combining to average 4.3 points per game this season.
Copper, meanwhile, is turning in her best pro season to date. While others may be sluggish, Copper has some built-in motivation to deliver on Thursday.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Mercury vs Sky odds
Mercury vs Sky live odds
Get the latest Mercury vs Sky WNBA odds for tonight.
Mercury vs Sky opening odds
- Spread: Phoenix -2.5 | Chicago +2.5
- Moneyline: Phoenix -137 | Chicago +119
- Over/Under: Over 164.5 | Under 164.5
Mercury vs Sky spread and Over/Under analysis
- Chicago has won eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings.
- Phoenix is 15-10 ATS this season.
- The Under has cashed in seven of the last eight Mercury vs. Sky games.
Mercury vs Sky trend
Phoenix is 7-3 ATS as a betting favorite this season. Find more WNBA betting trends for Mercury vs. Sky.
Mercury vs Sky game info
| Location: | Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL |
| Date: | Thursday, 8-15-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Amazon |
Mercury vs Sky latest injuries
Mercury: R. Allen (Out), S. Sutton (Out), C. Osborne (Out).
Sky: M. Jefferson (Out), E. Williams (Out).
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
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