The Chicago Sky will host the Atlanta Dream at Wintrust Arena on Wednesday, July 16. Tip-off is set for 12:00 PM ET in this early afternoon matchup. This is the third time these teams will meet this season, with Atlanta winning both of the first two games at home.
Chicago enters at 7-14 and is still trying to climb into the playoff picture. Atlanta sits at 12-9 and is second in the East, but they’ve been sliding with five losses in their last seven games. Injuries are a factor for both sides, including the recent loss of Rhyne Howard for Atlanta and two questionable guards for Chicago.
The Dream won the last game between these teams on June 22 by a score of 93-80. They also won 88-70 on June 13. Both games were played in Atlanta. Chicago will try to flip the script at home where they’ve gone 4-5 this season.
Atlanta is 4-6 on the road and looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Liberty where they struggled to score in the second half. Chicago is 3-9 on the road but will look to improve at home and slow down the Dream without their top scorer on the floor.
Sky Preview – Can They Keep the Momentum at Home?
Chicago has shown signs of improvement, winning two of its last three games. They most recently lost 91-78 to the Lynx on Monday. Angel Reese led the team again with 22 points and 10 rebounds, continuing her strong rookie season.
Reese is averaging a double-double and is a key piece on both ends of the floor. She gets help from Robyn Banham, who scored 15 points against Minnesota. Michaela Onyenwere and Ariel Atkins both left Monday’s game with injuries and are listed as game-time decisions.
The Sky’s biggest issue has been turnovers. They average a league-worst 15.7 per game and gave it away 19 times against Minnesota. When they take care of the ball, their offense runs better and they can compete with stronger teams.
Chicago is 12-9 against the spread and has covered in four of its last five games. The team allows 86.3 points per game, which ranks 10th in the WNBA. They are getting solid production from rookie center Kamilla Cardoso, who is giving them size and defense in the paint.
Dream Preview – Life Without Howard Begins
Atlanta has lost two straight games and is now adjusting without Rhyne Howard, who is out with a knee injury. Howard leads the team with 16.5 points per game and is expected to miss the rest of the month. Her absence was noticeable in their 79-72 loss to New York on Sunday.
The Dream led the Liberty 42-31 at halftime but scored just 11 points in the third quarter. They shot just 9-for-30 in the second half, which allowed New York to come back and win. Allisha Gray had 16 points, but she struggled with her shot, going 3-for-13.
Atlanta still has depth with players like Gray, Jordin Canada, and Naz Hillmon. The Dream are top-five in the league in rebounding and scoring, putting up 83.7 points per game. But their three-point shooting has dropped to 32.3%, and they’ve had trouble creating offense without Howard on the floor.
They are 11-10 against the spread and 12-8-1 to the Over this year. Atlanta’s defense ranks near the bottom in points allowed per game and struggles with defending the perimeter. Opponents are hitting 37.3% from three against them, which is 12th in the league.
Betting Prediction
Atlanta is favored by 8.5 points on the road, and the total is set at 158.5. They’ve won the last two meetings this season by 18 and 13 points, but both of those games were with Howard in the lineup. Without her, the Dream are not as strong on offense, especially in the half court.
Chicago is coming off a tough loss, but they’ve shown they can compete at home. Angel Reese has been consistent and the team has covered the spread in four of five. If they get even one of their guards back, they should be able to hang around. A close game is likely, with Atlanta pulling out a narrow win. Predicted score: Atlanta 81, Chicago 76.
Pick: Chicago +8.5
