The Chicago Sky will host the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night at Wintrust Arena. The Valkyries are 13-13 and in the hunt for the final playoff spot. Chicago enters the game at 7-19 and has lost six games in a row.
Golden State is coming off a 68-67 win over Washington on Thursday night. The Valkyries led by 12 at the half and held on for the road victory. Chicago last played Tuesday and lost 103-86 to the Mystics. Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso each had double-doubles, but the Sky allowed 100 points for the second time in three games.
Sky Preview – Injuries, Defense Dragging Chicago Down
The Sky continue to deal with injuries. Angel Reese is out, along with Aariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot. Reese had 22 points and 13 rebounds in her last game but has been dealing with back pain.
Chicago is last in the league in scoring defense, giving up 89 points per game. They also rank last in field goal defense and three-point defense. Their offense is not much better, ranking 12th in points per game and 11th in field goal percentage.
Kamilla Cardoso has been one of the few bright spots. She had 21 points and 10 rebounds against Washington. Chicago is good at forcing turnovers, ranking first in the WNBA in turnover margin. But poor shooting and weak defense continue to be major problems.
Valkyries Preview – Defense Keeping Playoff Hopes Alive
Golden State is coming off a hard-fought win at Washington. The Valkyries improved to 13-13 and now sit a half-game ahead of the Mystics for the last playoff spot. Janelle Salaun hit the go-ahead basket late and the team held on for the win.
The Valkyries have done well despite losing top scorer Monique Billings to a season-ending knee injury. Kayla Thornton is also out. The team ranks 11th in scoring but has stayed competitive thanks to a top-tier defense.
Golden State is third in points allowed per game and leads the WNBA in field goal defense. They are sixth in defending the three-point line. On offense, they make a high number of threes and rank fifth in the league in three-point shots made per game.
Matchup Breakdown – Offense vs Defense
Chicago gives up 89 points per game, worst in the league. Golden State allows just 78.6, which is top three. The Valkyries also lead the WNBA in field goal defense at 41.8% allowed, while the Sky are last, allowing opponents to shoot 46.9%.
The Valkyries rebound better and are second in rebounding margin. The Sky are third in that category, but the loss of Reese may hurt their inside presence. Golden State also protects the ball well and is fourth in turnover margin.
This is the first meeting between these two teams this season. The Sky are 4-9 at home, and the Valkyries are just 4-9 on the road. Both teams struggle to score, but Golden State’s defense gives them the edge.
Betting Prediction
The Valkyries are the better defensive team and are coming off a win. Even on the second night of a back-to-back, their style of play travels well. Golden State has a better shot selection and limits opponents better than Chicago does.
With Chicago missing key players and allowing so many points, Golden State should take advantage. Expect a low-scoring game where the Valkyries make more plays down the stretch. Back the Valkyries to cover a small spread and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Pick: Golden State Valkyries -2.5
