Everything you need to know for the WNBA August 4th triple-header

The WNBA had its second Monday “bye day” of the season and returns on Tuesday to continue the 2020 wubble season. The 22-game season for each of the 12 teams provides us with a daily triple-header six days a week, and we are on to our fifth game for each team.

The Phoenix Mercury appear to be getting back on track, coming off a 96-67 win over the New York Liberty on Sunday. While it is true New York is winless, the Mercury put together the kind of win a good team has. Add it to their win over the Aces, and they’re suddenly a dangerous squad. Through four games, the league has four teams at 3-1, six at 2-2, and two winless.

Monday gets started with the Dallas Wings and Chicago Sky facing off at 6 p.m. ET on local TV. That’s followed at 7 p.m. by the Phoenix Mercury and Atlanta Dream tipping off on ESPN2. The day wraps with the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm tipping off at 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

We’ll be keeping an eye on things this season, and want to give a big shout-out to Matt Ellentuck and his Here’s Basketball newsletter for providing some critical insight into the W.

Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky

Time: 6 p.m.
Channel: WCIU, Fox Sports Southwest Plus
Live stream: WNBA League Pass
Point spread: Sky -8
Money line odds: Wings +260, Sky -345

Satou Sabally has quickly climbed to the top of the Rookie of the Year power rankings, both because of Sabrina Ionescu’s injury and Sabally’s own great play. Sabally is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. Chicago is coming off a big win over the previously unbeaten Washington Mystics. If they can avoid a letdown, they should roll while also giving us a better idea of where Sabally might stand by the end of the season.

Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream

Time: 7 p.m.
Channel: ESPN2
Live stream: WatchESPN, WNBA League Pass
Point spread: Mercury -7
Money line odds: Mercury -286, Dream +220

The Mercury are suddenly on a roll, coming off a critical win over Las Vegas and a blowout of New York. Bria Harley has been big in that stretch, putting together a 27 point, 4 assist, 5 rebound performance against New York. Phoenix faces an Atlanta Squad that has been inconsistent thus far. It’s hard to put a lot of value in wins over New York and Dallas for the time being.

Connecticut Sun vs. Seattle Storm

Time: 9 p.m.
Channel: ESPN2
Live stream: WatchESPN, WNBA League Pass
Point spread: Storm -10.5
Money line odds: Sun +400, Storm -500

The Sun are struggling in part because it’s a whole lo of DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas, and not much else consistently. Connecticut gets Briann January back soon, but it won’t be soon enough for this beast of a matchup. The Storm were thumped by Washington last week, but rebounded with a win over LA. Seattle is not going to run away with things like some might have thought and losing Sue Bird to a bone bruise doesn’t help, but they should roll in this one.