So, you know how we often feel pretty fortunate to have sports events almost every night? While many countries stick to a couple of popular sports, like soccer or tennis, the U.S. really offers a wide array of options. Tonight, for example, we’ve got NHL and NBA playoffs, baseball, soccer, and WNBA games on tap. You might not catch them all—who could, right?—but there’s definitely something to look forward to. Speaking of which, I’m interested in a play from the match between the Wings and the Sky.
The Dallas Wings have really made their mark by winning the last two WNBA drafts. Heading into this season, I thought they’d be one of the teams to watch. They not only picked up top talent like Aji Fad but also brought in some solid players during the offseason. That includes Alana Smith, a 3-and-D player who adds much-needed defense—a key issue they faced last year. Plus, they have a new coach, and it seems like the team actually respects him, which is a good sign.
Even with these improvements, they’re still sitting at 2-2. I mean, it’s a work in progress, and it might take some time to find their rhythm. They do have a standout young talent in Paige Bueckers, and Arike Ogunbowale is one of the better scorers out there. My concern, though, is that Smith is averaging just 4.3 points per game this season and Fudd is struggling with a 20 percent shooting rate from three-point range. Hopefully, those numbers can come up as the season goes on.
I’ll admit, I might’ve missed the mark on my assessment of the Chicago Sky. I didn’t think they should’ve kept Angel Reese and, with all the players and draft picks they traded, it was tough to picture them having a successful season. However, they’ve made some solid offseason moves, and they seem to be finding their footing. Unfortunately, Rikea Jackson, who had a fantastic start this year, just tore her ACL—talk about a tough break.
With the Wings having selected Aji Fad as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, and with her now working alongside Paige Bueckers—who’s reportedly set to earn a historical $500,000 annual salary—there’s a lot of talk about the team’s future. The veterans are likely capable of holding things together. The real question is who steps up to share the scoring burden. It seems like it might be a collective effort, as there doesn’t seem to be anyone clearly poised to take on Jackson’s scoring duties. I’m still skeptical about whether they’ll be a top team, especially since three of the four they faced might struggle for playoff spots. Honestly, I had low expectations for the Sky.
I typically don’t lean toward favoring teams when they’re playing away, but I suspect it might be tough for the Sky to adjust without Jackson. They do have veteran players who know their roles, so there’s definitely potential for them to manage. However, I’m thinking this could create an opportunity for the Wings to snag a road win.
I feel like I want to take the lead here, but I might have to lean on the Wings’ current performance. It looks like they’re getting scoring from multiple players, while Chicago’s offense may be taking a step back. With the Wings showcasing better shooting and playmaking, I’m leaning toward them covering a -3.5 spread with a win.
