The Chicago Sky (6-13) and Las Vegas Aces (14-5) meet in the WNBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. EDT at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The game will be broadcast live on ION.
The Aces are favored by -7.5 on the spread, with the over/under set at 180.5 (-117o / -108u). The Aces are a -265 favorite to win outright, while the Sky are +215 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Sky vs. Aces predictions and WNBA picks.
Sky vs. Aces Odds, Pick
| Sky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -114 | 180.5 -117o / -108u | +215 |
| Aces Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -105 | 180.5 -117o / -108u | -265 |
- Sky vs. Aces Spread: Aces -7.5 (-105 ), Sky +7.5 (-114)
- Sky vs. Aces Over/Under: 180.5 (-117o / -108u)
- Sky vs. Aces Moneyline: Sky +215, Aces -265
- Sky vs. Aces Best Bet: Nalyssa Smith Under 12.5 Points (-112, bet365)
Sky vs. Aces Preview
The Sky (6-13) have had an up-and-down summer under head coach Tyler Marsh. The roster took a massive hit earlier in the season when breakout forward Rickea Jackson suffered a torn ACL, severely lowering their offensive floor. However, Chicago has shown flashes of resilience lately, largely due to the emergence of sophomore center Kamilla Cardoso.
Cardoso has been an absolute force down low, coming off a string of dominant performances including 24-point and 30-point outings. Alongside the versatile Azurá Stevens, the Sky possess one of the tallest and longest frontcourts in the league.
The issue for Chicago hasn't been scoring inside; it’s been stopping anyone on the perimeter. The Sky currently rank 11th in defensive rating (109.5) and opponent points per game (89.5). They will need a much tighter defensive effort from veterans Natasha Cloud and Skylar Diggins if they want to avoid getting swept in this mini-series against the reigning powerhouse.
The Aces (9-3) are back on their home floor after a quick detour to the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship game on Tuesday night, where they fell to the New York Liberty. Despite that minor speed bump, Becky Hammon's squad remains the gold standard in the Western Conference.
The Aces are fueled by another historic, MVP-caliber campaign from A'ja Wilson, who continues to tear through opposing defenses with terrifying ease. Alongside her, Jackie Young has taken a massive leap as an elite number-two scoring option, frequently carrying the perimeter scoring load while Chelsea Gray masterfully orchestrates the offense.
The Aces are looking to use this game to wipe away the bad taste of Tuesday’s Cup loss and reaffirm their status as the league's most lethal offense.
Sky vs. Aces Prediction
Our PRO Projections system has flagged an edge on the player prop market targeting Aces forward NaLyssa Smith.
Since arriving in Las Vegas, Smith has settled into a highly productive, hyper-efficient complementary role. She is shooting a brilliant ~68% from the field this season, but efficiency does not equal volume. Playing alongside heavy-usage superstars like Wilson, Young, and Gray means Smith is rarely the focal point of a set play.
Smith is currently averaging 11.2 points per game this season. This 12.5 line asks her to exceed her standard output in a game where the Aces' primary options are expected to dominate the touches. In fact, Smith has been held under 10 points in three of her last five outings.
Even though Chicago's overall defensive rating is a lowly 11th, their defensive identity shifts when you look strictly at the painted area. With the 6'7" Kamilla Cardoso and 6'6" Azurá Stevens anchoring the low post, the Sky possess the raw verticality to make life difficult for secondary interior scorers.
Our proprietary projections model tags Smith closer to 10.1 points for tonight's game, giving us a comfortable cushion against the 12.5 line. Expect Wilson and Young to handle the heavy lifting offensively, leaving Smith to focus on the boards and defense. Lock in the Under.
Best Bet: Nalyssa Smith Under 12.5 Points (-112, bet365)
