I was able to get a win yesterday on the diamond, and quite frankly, I needed it. After a few losses, it was nice to get back into the winning column. However, I am taking a break today because there are only a few games on the board that I like, and none of them that I feel overly confident in. Instead of going to the ballpark, we are going to the hardwood, where we have two WNBA games with some interesting matchups. Let’s focus on those for tonight.
It might be a bit hard to believe, but one of the best teams in the WNBA is only in its second year of existence. Normally, expansion teams are terrible, but the Valkyries are showing how it can be done correctly. Hockey seems to have success with expansion teams as well, but the NBA and MLB tend to struggle for whatever reason. I think part of what makes them so successful is the balance the they have. They have both inside and outside presences that can put the ball in the bucket. What is crazy is that the team only has three scorers averaging more than 10 points per game. However, they have eight players averaging six or more per game, meaning it is really tough to match up with them as everyone can (and does) contribute.
The New York Liberty came into this season as the favorites to win the WNBA Championship. They’ve looked like anything but a championship team. Sure, they still have the star power with Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu, but the team is just 10-10 on the road. Some teams tend to struggle on the road, but you have to be able to win there if you want to hoist the trophy at the end of the year. The Liberty have been a bit streaky this year, but they are in the midst of a good streak, winning 10 of their past 13 games. They also are 13-5 at home this year with an average margin of victory of 13.5 points. I’m taking the Liberty tonight. The Valkyries have had the Liberty’s number this season, but I like New York’s form, home court advantage, and the need to avoid the season sweep. Give me New York -2.5.
KELSEY PLUM HEADS TO PHOENIX MERCURY IN BLOCKBUSTER DEAL HOURS BEFORE WNBA TRADE DEADLINE
Washington isn’t a franchise you think of in the WNBA as one with a ton of success. The Mystics haven’t made the postseason since 2023, and their past few seasons have been really difficult. The team got some draft luck and took Sonia Citron last year. She has been very strong since coming into the league. They also drafted Kiki Iriafen last year, and she is turning out to be elite as well. The team has three scorers averaging over 15 points per game, so it is a bit different than the Valkyries, who spread out the scoring.
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The Phoenix Mercury have had a drop-off this season that is a bit unexplainable. Perhaps it was a fluke that the team went to the WNBA Finals last season. Whatever the case is, they have fallen off a cliff this year. They are just 13-25 this year and have been awful at home with a 5-13 record. I’m not entirely sure what happened with the team. Injuries probably explain a little bit of it. However, they still have good players like Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas. DeWanna Bonner was recently released, and Kelsey Plum came over at the trade deadline, but she’s had injury issues all season.
In this game, we have one team trying to win, and one team looking to position themselves for the upcoming WNBA Draft. The Mystics and Mercury just played each other two days ago, and Washington won by 10 points. I really don’t see this game being much different. Give me Washington to cover the -3.5. There are too many questions and missing pieces for the Mercury.
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