With the Olympic break over, the Seattle Storm resume their goal of competing for a title. They’re in Atlanta as seven-point favorites on Friday to take on a Dream squad just trying to find its way back into the playoff picture.
Read below for my Storm vs. Dream prediction and free WNBA picks for Friday, August 16.
Storm vs Dream predictions
My best bet
Storm -7 (-112 at DraftKings)
My analysis
The break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Atlanta Dream, who were reeling without guard Rhyne Howard (ankle). Atlanta has dropped eight straight, sitting ninth in the WNBA standings but still within striking distance of the eighth-seeded Chicago Sky, who are currently 2.5 games ahead of them in the standings.
Howard — who returned to action in the final game before the break — can only help a unit that put up 73.6 points per game during the recent slide, including 43.9% shooting from the field and an abysmal 26.7% from 3-point range. The second-leading scorer on the team at 15.4 points per game, her offense can also help support a defense that’s Top 5 in points allowed (81.2), including limiting teams to 42.5% shooting, the fourth-best mark in the W.
The task will be a tough one against a Seattle Storm squad that sits in fourth at 17-8, currently jockeying at the top of the standings with New York, Connecticut and Minnesota. Seattle is one of only two teams to rank inside the Top 4 in both points scored and scoring defense with the Liberty.
The Storm hit the break on a roll, ripping off eight wins over their last 10, with seven of those wins coming by double-digits. Seattle’s only weakness is its inability to hit the 3-ball as they currently rank last in the league, hitting at a grim 29.2%, the only team to go sub-30 on the year.
However, they make up for it with their work on the margins. Seattle is third in points off turnovers and second-chance points while ranking second in points in the paint.
This will be the second meeting between these teams this season, with Seattle handling Atlanta 81-70 on July 14 despite shooting 5-for-28 from 3-point range. The Storm held the Dream to 38.4% shooting from the field and 3-for-17 from downtown.
Howard was not in the lineup, and neither was guard Jordin Canada (finger), who will still be out Friday. While the offensive output can only get better for Atlanta, expect Seattle to get right to business out of the break.
Storm vs Dream same-game parlay (SGP)
Storm -7
Jewell Loyd Over 20.5 points
Rhyne Howard Under 2.5 made 3s
Even the Olympic experience couldn’t lift Jewell Loyd’s shooting splits. She went into the break shooting a career-worst 36.2% from the field, and her 26.1% mark from distance is the worst since her rookie season. Loyd averaged just 3.2 points on 23.8% shooting in Paris, and was a DNP in the gold medal game.
So why are we taking the Over in this SGP? Volume. The Seattle guard is putting up 17 field goal attempts per game, which ranks fourth in the WNBA, and gets to the stripe a league-best 7.3 times per contest. It’s nowhere near efficient, but with even a decent day with those numbers, and she’ll be around that 20.5 line again.
Howard is not a great 3-point shooter, so it’s surprising to see her 3-point make line at 2.5 against the Storm. In her last 10 games, she has crossed this total just twice, and went four games with zero makes.
Seattle is elite at defending the arc, holding opponents to a 31.4% clip, so expect a lot more misses than makes for Atlanta and Howard in this one.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Storm vs Dream odds
Storm vs Dream live odds
Get the latest Storm vs Dream WNBA odds for tonight.
Storm vs Dream opening odds
- Spread: Seattle -7 | Atlanta +7
- Moneyline: Seattle -332 | Atlanta +278
- Over/Under: Over 159 | Under 159
Storm vs Dream spread and Over/Under analysis
- Atlanta is 4-9 straight-up at home this season.
- The Under has cashed in five straight head-to-heads.
- The Dream have gone Under the total in four of their last five games.
Storm vs Dream trend
Atlanta is just 3-8 ATS at home this season. Find more WNBA betting trends for Storm vs. Dream.
Storm vs Dream game info
| Location: | Gateway Center Arena, College Park, GA |
| Date: | Friday, 8-16-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ION |
Storm vs Dream latest injuries
Storm: M. Holmes (Out).
Dream: L. Cubaj (Ques), J. Canada (Out).
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
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