The Chicago Sky travel to Mohegan Sun Arena to take on the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET. The Sky enter the game with an 8-23 record, while the Sun sit at 5-26. Both teams have been struggling, with Chicago losing 10 of its last 11 games and Connecticut dropping 10 of its last 12.
The two teams last met on June 15, when the Sky came away with a 78-66 win. In that game, Hailey Van Lith scored a career-high 16 points off the bench, and the Chicago reserves outscored Connecticut’s bench 36-2. The Sun were led by Marina Mabrey with 22 points, but depth scoring was a major issue. This rematch gives both teams a chance to snap losing streaks and get back in the win column.
Sky Preview – Searching for Offensive Flow
Chicago’s offense has been up and down all season, averaging 75.8 points per game while shooting 42% from the field. In their most recent outing, they fell 92-70 to the Indiana Fever, with Rachel Banham scoring 11 points and rookie Maddy Westbeld adding 10. Kamilla Cardoso was held to six points on 3-of-8 shooting and did not attempt a free throw, something head coach Tyler Marsh pointed out as a concern.
The loss of Angel Reese has been a major factor. Reese leads the team in points (14.2), rebounds (12.6), and assists (3.7) per game, but she has missed the last five contests with a back injury. Without her, the Sky have leaned on Banham, Westbeld, and Van Lith to carry the scoring load. In the last meeting against Connecticut, Reese had a double-double, and her absence will be felt on both ends of the court.
Defensively, Chicago is allowing 87.2 points per game, which ranks near the bottom of the league. Opponents are hitting 46.7% of their shots against them. The Sky rank second in the league in rebounding at 36.1 per game, but turnovers have been an issue, averaging 16.8 per contest. Winning the turnover battle and limiting second-chance points will be key against the Sun.
Sun Preview – Looking to Snap Skid
The Sun’s offensive struggles have been similar to Chicago’s. Connecticut is averaging just 75.8 points per game and shooting 43.5% from the floor. In their most recent 74-57 loss to the Golden State Valkyries, Aneesah Morrow was a bright spot with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored 12 on perfect shooting. Marina Mabrey had a rough outing, going 1-for-7 from the field and missing all six three-point attempts.
Connecticut’s home record stands at 4-11, and they’ve lost five straight games. The team was without veteran Tina Charles in their last game due to rest, and her presence is important for interior scoring and rebounding. Head coach Rachid Meziane has called for more contributions from his starters and bench players to help replace the production of key veterans when they are out.
Defensively, the Sun allow opponents to shoot 81.8 points per game while giving up 43.5% shooting. They rank 13th in defensive rebounds and have struggled to limit teams in the paint. In the first meeting with Chicago, Connecticut allowed 36 bench points, which was a major factor in their loss. Limiting Chicago’s role players will be a priority in this matchup.
Betting Prediction
Oddsmakers have Connecticut as a slight favorite at home despite their recent struggles. Chicago won the last meeting by 12 points and has taken three of the last five matchups against the Sun. The total is set at 170, which could be on the higher side considering both offenses rank near the bottom of the league in scoring.
Without Reese, the Sky will need strong performances from Banham, Van Lith, and Cardoso. The Sun will look to Morrow, Mabrey, and Nelson-Ododa to control the paint and create second-chance points. This game could come down to which team gets more production from its bench. Given Chicago’s previous success in this series and their slight rebounding edge, the Sky have a good chance to cover the spread and possibly win outright.
Pick: Chicago +2.5
