Griner, Mercury Return Home after Season-Opening Loss
There will be plenty of buzz around Phoenix post player Brittney Griner once again as she plays in her first regular-season home game since being released from prison in Russia. Griner had a team-high 18 points to go with six rebounds as Phoenix fell to Los Angeles 94-71 in the season opener. The WNBA predictions will be calling for a bounce-back performance by the Mercury.
Chicago outscored Minnesota 22-3 in the second quarter on its way to an 11-point road win against Minnesota on Friday despite being outscored 18-6 at the foul line. The Sky were +10 in points in the paint in the win.
Even without the veteran backcourt of Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley, Chicago has nine 3-pointers and that was tied with Los Angeles for the most among the eight teams in action on Friday night. Keep that in mind when making WNBA picks.
Chicago has won each of the last five meetings with Phoenix. Just one of those games was played on the road. All five of those games finished under the total.
When looking at the WNBA news, Griner (+750) is fifth in the WNBA Most Valuable Player odds with teammate Diana Taurasi well back at +8000.
According to the WNBA playoff odds, Phoenix (+1800) is fourth in the odds to win the WNBA title while Chicago is seventh at +3300.
Copper Back To Lead Sky
The majority of the 2022 Chicago Sky team is playing elsewhere this season, if they are playing at all. One of the three returning players in Kahleah Copper. She had 20 points, tied for the most in the four opening-night games, as Chicago opened the 2023 season with a road victory.
Copper scored in double figures in each of the three games against the Mercury last season. Without Candace Parker, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot, Azura Stevens and Allie Quigley around, don’t be surprised to see her average of 11.8 field goal attempts per game to increase significantly.
Alanna Smith, who spent her first three seasons with Phoenix, added 15 points and was 3-for-3 on 3-pointers. Elizabeth Williams had 14 points and six rebounds in her Sky debut.
Something to consider for those who bet online: Chicago has seen seven of its last eight games finish under the total.
Will Phoenix Continue To Be Shorthanded?
Phoenix headed into the season without last year’s top scorer Skylar Diggins-Smith as she is on maternity leave. In the season opener, neither Sophie Cunningham nor Megan Gustafson were cleared to play as the Mercury went mostly went with a seven-player rotation.
Other than Sug Sutton, playing in her first WNBA regular-season game since 2020, the Mercury reserves had five points on 1-of-6 shooting. It didn’t help that starting forward Brianna Turner did not attempt a shot or score a point in 31 minutes and former WNBA Rookie of the Year Michaela Onyenwere was just 2-of-6 from the floor in the loss to Los Angeles.
Will the presence of Griner and Taurasi, two of the best players in WNBA history, be enough to keep the Mercury competitive until reinforcements arrive?
When we say this is going to be a day you never forget, we mean it.
The 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫 is TOMORROW!
🎟️: https://t.co/EF7QSYAc84 pic.twitter.com/rBq2usa6Kz— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 20, 2023
Six of Phoenix’s last 10 games have gone under the WNBA betting lines total. However, four of the last six games played at home finished over the total.
Sky vs Mercury Game Information
- Game: Sky 1-0; Mercury 0-1
- Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
- Day/Time: Sunday, May 21, 4 p.m. ET
- Sky vs Mercury Live Stream: WNBA.com
Sky vs Mercury Betting Lines
Sky vs Mercury Picks and Prediction
Keep an eye on the injury updates heading into this game. Phoenix is without guard Shay Peddy and Isabelle Harrison is out for Chicago. Phoenix has more injury concerns than the Sky and the availability of Cunningham and Gustafson could impact the WNBA spreads.
Chicago had 14 steals in the season opener while Phoenix turned the ball over in Friday’s season-opening loss.
The total has gone under in five of Chicago’s last six road games. The Sky has covered against the spread in each of the last six games that Chicago has won. Phoenix has lost eight of its last 10 games. However, the Mercury is 6-3 in its last nine home games.
