Odds and picks for August 4th in the WNBA

Round 5 of 22 in the WNBA starts today as players get back on the court after the now-traditional Monday off day. Some of them even got to the beaches of West Central Florida yesterday, but don’t worry all excursions were carefully monitored for Wubble standards.

The title favorite Seattle Storm are back in action tonight as well, but will be without Sue Bird who is down with a knee injury. With Epiphanny Prince already out, as Matt Ellentuck of the outstanding Here’s Basketball newsletter points out, it opens up plenty of minutes and shots for former UCLA Bruin Jordin Canada. Can she grind out a cover for the Storm against DeWanna Bonner, who is an MVP candidate early in Bradenton?

Also the Phoenix Mercury take on the Atlanta Dream, with the 404 well ahead of pace for their final over/under of 6.5 wins this season. Rookie Chennedy Carter out of Texas A&M has jumped right into pro basketball with both feet, and if Sabrina Ionescu remains on the shelf with her ankle injury for an extended period, she’s got a shot at Rookie of The Year. Five players for Atlanta average double digits, but with the second-worst defensive rating in the league, they’ll need to get more stops if they’re going to make the Top 8 and the playoffs.

Here are the odds and spreads for tonight’s WNBA action, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

6 p.m.: Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky -7: Total 173
7 p.m.: Phoenix Mercury -6.5 vs. Atlanta Dream: Total 176
9 p.m.: Connecticut Sun vs. Seattle Storm -10.5: Total 156 *

* From various sportsbooks as DraftKings is unable to offer betting on Connecticut Sun games due to their partnership with Mohegan Gaming, which owns the team.

The pick: Connecticut Sun +10.5

Catching double digits on a neutral floor is good, and doing so while facing a team without their pilot and leader in the 39-year-old Bird is even better. DeWanna Bonner has been a revelation for the Sun this season, and while Connecticut struggles to score at times, they have been able to get stops when needed (6th in defensive efficiency at 99.1 per 100 possessions).

Breanna Stewart will get all the shots she wants, and being the best women’s basketball player on earth that should be enough to get the Storm a win. But they won’t blow anyone off the floor. Storm win, Sun cover.

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