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The Money Line: WNBA spreads, totals and analysis, part 2, May 20

By Blake DuDonis

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - May 16: Sylvia Fowles #34, Lindsay Whalen #13, Maya Moore #23, and Rebekkah Brunson #32 of the Minnesota Lynx pose for portraits during 2018 Media Day on May 16, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - May 16: Sylvia Fowles #34, Lindsay Whalen #13, Maya Moore #23, and Rebekkah Brunson #32 of the Minnesota Lynx pose for portraits during 2018 Media Day on May 16, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 28: Amber Stocks of the Chicago Sky shakes hands with Katie Smith of the New York Liberty after the game in a WNBA game on August 27, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 28: Amber Stocks of the Chicago Sky shakes hands with Katie Smith of the New York Liberty after the game in a WNBA game on August 27, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Chicago Sky
New York Liberty (-6.5, -105)
Total: 151, -110

Chicago already played a game this season; they beat Indiana on their opening night 82-64. Allie Quigley scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting and rookie Diamond DeShields showed everyone why she was once considered the #1 prospect in the country (Chicago took her with the #3 pick in this year’s draft) be scoring 18 points and hauling in eight rebounds. Last season, Chicago’s offense was OK but their defense was poor (87.2 ppg given up was second worst in the league and their defensive rating was third worst). While their defense is still a question in my mind, the weapons they have on offense should be able to cover some of those warts. The play of Stefanie Dolson will be hugely important and it remains to be seen if semi-positionless but freak-athlete Gabby Williams can be an impact player.

For New York, it will be a new face roaming the sidelines. Well, sort of. Katie Smith, the long time Liberty assistant coach and former WNBA great, takes over the head coaching duties with Bill Laimbeer heading to Las Vegas and she has a team with plenty of question marks. Tina Charles is a wonder, but after that is where things get dicey. Please don’t misunderstand: I have the upmost respect for Epiphanny Prince, Sugar Rodgers and Shavonte Zellous. That said, the Libs have proven to be able to navigate the regular season fine, but the playoffs have been another story. Will they be able to get over the hump finally or will their shaky-at-times offensive betray them?

This is a tough pick for me as well. I think New York wins, but give me Chicago with the points and give me the under.

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