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The Money Line: WNBA odds, predictions for Wednesday, July 5

By Blake DuDonis

ROSEMONT, IL - MAY 19: Elizabeth Williams #1 of the Atlanta Dream goes to the basket against the Chicago Sky on May 19, 2017 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
ROSEMONT, IL - MAY 19: Elizabeth Williams #1 of the Atlanta Dream goes to the basket against the Chicago Sky on May 19, 2017 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Skylar Diggins-Smith
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 13: Skylar Diggins-Smith /

Atlanta Dream (+5, -110)
Dallas Wings (-5, -110)
Total: 164.5

Heading into Sunday’s matchup with New York, Atlanta had lost three in a row and six of their last seven, so naturally they beat the Liberty by nine.  Huh? In four of their six wins this season, Atlanta has held it’s opponents under 80 points, clearly a good marker of success for them. In the win over New York, the player who led the charge offensively was a rookie who has quietly been getting better and better as the season has worn on: Brittney Sykes. Struggling to even get on the court at the beginning of the season, Sykes has found herself in the starting lineup and has rewarded the coaching staff for their decision. Pouring in 16.7 PPG over her last three games, Sykes is now averaging 8 PPG and 3.2 RPG and has provided Atlanta with a much needed spark.

We have come to a point where I lament picking Dallas games. After losing six of seven, the Wings reeled off four straight wins and really looked to be a well oiled machine. While they were due to lose eventually, a 20 points loss to a Seattle team who limped into the game on a three games skid of their own was not a good look. I actually picked Seattle to win that game, and as I noted, Dallas’ win streak occurred despite the numbers suggesting that they should have lost a few of those games. Over the last five games, Dallas is second to last in the defensive rating department and their effective field goal percentage is in the bottom three. All credit to them for getting the ship back on course, but the Wings still have a lot to prove if they want to be trusted consistently.

Pick this game at your own risk with both teams unable to provide any type of true security. This is a complete toss up and if I wrote this column 10 times today I would probably pick each team five times. Since I only have one pick, I’ll take the home team and hope Dallas holds them off late in a low scoring affair as I’ll also take the under.

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