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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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PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 12: Breanna Stewart #30 of the Seattle Storm and Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury speak during a pre-season game on May 12, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 12: Breanna Stewart #30 of the Seattle Storm and Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury speak during a pre-season game on May 12, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Seattle Storm (-2.5, -105)
Phoenix Mercury
Total: 155.5, -110

Oh, this is a fun matchup. You’ve got two of the greatest players in WNBA history with Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, one of the most dominant players in Brittney Griner and another future Hall of Famer in Breanna Stewart.

The Mercury were a bit frustrating last season, which says how good they are expected to be considering they made it to the quarterfinals. Griner had a legit MVP season going before getting banged up and DT remains one of the most fierce competitors we’ve ever seen. It’s only been one game, but Marie Gülich was really impressive defensively against Dallas’ Liz Cambage and would be a much needed bench boost if she can continue to play that way. They have to rebound the ball better this season; despite having Griner, Phoenix was tied for the third worst rebounding percentage in the league a year ago. They have embraced shooting the three ball at a higher rate; they got 23.8% of their points from the three ball which was third highest in the WNBA.

Seattle. Ohhhhh Seattle. Sue. Stewie. Jewell Loyd. And consider me a loud and proud member of team Jordin Canada, who I think will be an All-Star caliber point guard sooner rather than later. WNBA coaching veteran Dan Hughes takes over the team after the Storm let Jenny Boucek go halfway through last season. The team has plenty of ways to score, but they have to make their opponents work for their points a little harder. Giving up an effective field goal percentage of 49.1 and a true shooting percentage of 53.4 is way too high for a team with championship aspirations like the Storm has and I would except those numbers to be better this season.

Betting against Taurasi seems like a terrible idea, but here I am about to do it anyway. Give me Seattle and the over. Ugh, I already hate this pick.

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