Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings Preview, Prediction and Odds - 6/30/21
It’s an interconference clash on the WNBA parquet floor in the Lone Star State. The Chicago Sky are on the road as they open up a two-game series with the Dallas Wings Wednesday night. Chicago comes in off a 74-58 road loss to Connecticut in their last game Sunday afternoon, snapping their seven-game win streak. Dallas dropped Washington 85-74 Saturday at home in their most recent game. The Sky took both meetings in the bubble last season, including a 95-88 win as the “road” team in the most recent matchup on September 11, 2020. That gave Chicago six wins in the last seven meetings between the teams.
Chicago Sky Trying to Start New Win Streak
Chicago saw their seven-game win streak snapped as they were knocked off on the road by Connecticut in their worst offensive showing of the season. The Sky dropped to 9-8 on the year and entered Tuesday holding the fourth seed in the WNBA playoff picture, 3.5 games behind the league-leading Storm. Against Connecticut, Chicago held their lone lead at 2-0 before giving up a 13-2 run to go down nine. The Sky was handcuffed all day long by the Sun’s defense and was unable to get closer than four after that, which came in the opening moments of the second half. Chicago then gave up a 10-0 run to trail 46-32 with 7:44 to play in the third quarter and you could turn the lights out at that point. The Sky shot 33.3% from the field, including five of 24 from three-point range, and edged 38-34 on the glass in the contest. Kahleah Copper and Allie Quigley each had 11 points to lead Chicago in the loss.
The Sky is 7th in the league in scoring offense as they muster 80.9 points per contest this season. Chicago is fifth in rebounding (36.6 boards a night) and third in assists by dishing out 20.2 dimes a game. The Sky is good on defense as they are second in the league by allowing an average of 77.4 points a contest. Kahleah Copper is one of six players averaging in double figures for the team with 13.9 points plus 4.9 rebounds a night this season. Candace Parker (12.2 points, 8.3 boards), Astou Ndour-Fall (10.1 points, 7.6 rebounds) and Ruthy Hebard (8.9 points, 6.1 rebounds) are solid secondary options. The Sky can also look to Diamond DeShields (12.2 points), Courtney Vandersloot (11.7 points, 8.5 assists), Allie Quigley (12.2 points), Stefanie Dolson, Brittany Boyd-Jones, Azura Stevens, Natasha Mack and Stephanie Watts to contribute for coach James Wade. Chicago is 9th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 41.8% as a team. The Sky are near the bottom of the pack in threes per game as they are 9th with 6.6 per contest: they are 9th in three-point shooting at 33.5%. Chicago comes in first at the free-throw line this season as they are shooting 87.5% at the stripe. Ndour-Fall has been out as she represented Spain in EuroBasket though she is slated to return soon.
Dallas Wings Looking for Third Straight Win
Dallas won their second straight game as they prevailed at home against a shorthanded Mystics squad Saturday afternoon. The Wings entered Tuesday sixth in the WNBA playoff picture but they were just half a game ahead of ninth-place Washington to remain on the right side of the cut line. Against Washington, Dallas used a 14-2 run to break an early tie and didn’t look back. After taking that 12-point lead in the late stages of the opening quarter, the Wings didn’t let the Mystics closer than five the rest of the way. Dallas shot 42.3% from the field, including 10 of 29 from three-point range, and controlled the glass by a 40-32 margin. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 30 points and five steals in the victory.
The Wings come into this one-third in the league in scoring with 84.6 points per game this season. Dallas is first in rebounding (37.9 boards per contest) but rank 9th in the league in assists with 17.8 per game. The Wings are struggling defensively, ranking 6th by allowing 81.4 points per contest. Arike Ogunbowale (20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists) is one of four players scoring in double figures for the Wings this season. Allisha Gray (10.5 points), Marina Mabrey (14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists), Isabelle Harrison (eight points, 5.9 rebounds) and Kayla Thornton (8.8 points, six rebounds) are all capable scoring options as well. Charli Collier, Tyasha Harris, Chelsea Dungee, Awak Kuier, Moriah Jefferson, Satou Sabally (13.2 points, 6.1 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 42.2% as a team. Dallas is fourth in three-pointers per game (8.7) and stand third in the league in three-point shooting as they hit 36.3% from long range. The Wings are second in free throw shooting as they convert 84.2% of their chances at the stripe.
Pick: Chicago Sky
While Chicago had their seven-game win streak snapped in their previous contest, the fact remains that came against a team that leads the league in scoring defense. In this contest, the Sky faces a Dallas team that is in the middle of the pack when it comes to scoring defense and who is seventh in field goal percentage defense (42.5%) this season. The Wings have had their struggles at times when it comes to slowing down opposing teams on the defensive end of the floor. Even having Sabally back in the mix, that can only do so much on the defensive end of the floor. With the way Chicago can attack the basket, you have to give them the upper hand in this contest.
Total: Over
Chicago has been good on the defensive end of the floor but their offense was clicking in their seven-game win streak. The Sky went over the total in the first five games of their win streak before their two wins over the Liberty fell short. Their loss to Connecticut was a defensive struggle that kept things under the total as well, extending their under streak to three games. On the season, Chicago has seen the under hit in nine of their 17 games entering this one. Dallas, despite their big offensive numbers, have seen the under hit in 10 of their 16 games with one push on the books. Still, we’ve seen the over hit in three of the last four and seven of the last 10 matchups have gone over the mark. Look for Chicago to get going offensively again and push this one over the mark.
