The Chicago Sky head to New York to take on the Liberty at Barclays Center on Thursday night. Chicago is 8-26 this season, while New York sits near the top of the league at 22-13. The Sky have struggled on the road, holding a 3-13 away record compared to the Liberty’s strong 14-4 mark at home.
New York has won both prior meetings this year, including an 85-66 victory in June. The Sky recently got Angel Reese back from injury, which should help their chances, but they have dropped 13 of their last 14 games overall. The Liberty, meanwhile, are still without Breanna Stewart but continue to find wins with their depth.
Sky Preview – Hoping Reese’s Return Brings Life
Angel Reese returned to the court on Tuesday after missing three weeks with a back injury. She scored 19 points with seven rebounds and four assists in a loss to Seattle. With Reese in the lineup, Chicago’s play improves, as the Sky are 7-17 in games she has played compared to 1-9 without her.
Chicago’s offense has been led by Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, who added 10 points and six rebounds against Seattle. Atkins also chipped in 19 points, but the Sky still fell 94-88. Turnovers and defensive lapses have hurt the team throughout the season, with Chicago ranking near the bottom of the league in points allowed.
On the defensive side, the Sky will have their hands full against New York’s balanced starting five. Chicago gives up 75.3 points per game, the second-worst mark in the league. They will need a strong effort on the boards and improved defensive rotations if they want to stay close in this matchup.
Liberty Preview – Depth Carrying the Load
The Liberty have continued winning despite being without Breanna Stewart since late July. Jonquel Jones stepped up on Tuesday with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Minnesota. That was her 100th career double-double, and she has become the team’s most reliable scorer during Stewart’s absence.
Sabrina Ionescu also delivered with 17 points and 11 assists in the same game. Ionescu has been the team’s engine on offense, making big plays late, including a four-point play to seal the win. Emma Meesseman and Nia Cloud have also contributed steady scoring and ball movement to keep the offense flowing.
Defensively, New York holds opponents to 81.4 points per game, one of the best marks in the league. At home, the Liberty have dominated, winning 14 of 18 games in Brooklyn. Even without Stewart, their balanced scoring and strong defensive numbers make them a tough matchup for struggling Chicago.
Betting Prediction
The Liberty are heavy favorites at -14.5 with the total set at 165.5. New York has already beaten Chicago by 25 and 19 points in their two meetings this year. The Sky have been one of the league’s worst ATS teams at 14-20, while the Liberty are 13-20-2 ATS but usually control games at home.
Reese’s return helps the Sky, but New York has more depth and a clear advantage on both ends of the floor. Expect the Liberty to use their ball movement and defense to pull away in the second half. Predicted score: Liberty 88, Sky 70.
Pick: Liberty -14.5
