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Facebook will host Friday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. ET at Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, DC. The game will air on the WNBA’s Facebook page.
The Fever enter this season looking to improve from their six-win 2021 campaign that saw them get the No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. With that pick, the Fever took NaLyssa Smith, who will help out immediately. Indiana will lean on veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who led the team with 17.8 points per game. The Fever have +7000 odds to win the WNBA championship this season.
The Mystics are back at full strength and look to return to the playoffs after just missing out last season. Washington is excited to have All-Star forward Elena Delle Donne back on the floor, who only played in three games last season. The Mystics have a ton of experience that will help them navigate through the regular season and hopefully to a win on opening night. Washington has +1800 odds to win the WNBA title this season.
Fever vs. Mystics
Tip time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Facebook (Log in required)
Moneyline odds: Mystics -280, Fever +210
Point spread: Mystics -7.5 (+100), Fever +7.5 (-130)
Picks & predictions
Pick: Mystics -7.5
The Fever have missed the playoffs for five straight seasons, which is tough to do when eight teams make it in a 12-team league. But Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith joins as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, and with rookies such as Emily Engstler and Lexie Hull added to Kelsey Mitchell and Tiffany Mitchell, they’ll have a chance to make the postseason.
But a veteran Mystics team with a healthy (for now) Elena Delle Donne should be too much. Expect Indiana to improve as the season continues, but this is too tough a spot to start too many pro careers.
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