The Washington Mystics (16-27) and New York Liberty (25-17) meet in the WNBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
The Liberty are favored by -14.5 on the spread, with the over/under set at 159 (-108o / -112u). The Liberty are a -1250 favorite to win outright, while the Mystics are +700 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Mystics vs. Liberty prediction and WNBA picks.
Mystics vs. Liberty Odds, Pick
| Mystics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14.5 -112 | 159 -108o / -112u | +700 |
| Liberty Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14.5 -108 | 159 -108o / -112u | -1250 |
- Mystics vs. Liberty Spread: Liberty -14.5 (-108 ), Mystics +14.5 (-112)
- Mystics vs. Liberty Over/Under: 159 (-108o / -112u)
- Mystics vs. Liberty Moneyline: Mystics +700, Liberty -1250
- Mystics vs. Liberty Best Bet: Sabrina Ionescu Over 14.5 Points
Mystics vs. Liberty Preview
The Liberty have battled injuries all season, but are finally healthy and looking to get in rhythm before the postseason. It remains to be seen how they will manage their rotation over the final week of the season, but one would assume they'd get their starters some run together — a thought process that paves the way for Joe Dellera's best bet tonight.
Meanwhile, the Mystics have lost nine straight and are just playing out the rest of the schedule.
Joe Dellera's Mystics vs. Liberty Prediction
This is really the game where you say, "Okay, get out there, go play some minutes. We need to get reps together. You guys all need to interact and be on the court at the same time."
Washington's defense is a bit tougher against bigs, not that New York's bigs won't be able to score, but they'll have a tougher matchup than Sabrina Ionescu will have on the outside. So, I think this 14.5 points line is a little low. Ionescu has been playing at least 30 minutes per game when she's been playing and is averaging 18, almost 19, points per game. So, to me, this is more of a bet on her both getting enough run, but also having one of the better matchups.
Plus, she hasn't played in a couple of weeks, and if we know anything about Ionescu, it's that she's going to chuck it until she makes them because that's how she's going to get into a rhythm.
It wouldn't shock me to see her come out, play 30 minutes or so, and take almost 20 shots because that's just what she does.
So, I like 15 or more points for Ionescu.
Best Bet: Sabrina Ionescu Over 14.5 Points
