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The Money Line: May 20 WNBA spreads, totals and analysis, part 1

By Blake DuDonis

DES MOINES, IA - MAY 6: a general view of the WNBA Championships trophies during the game between the Washington Mystics vs the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA pre-season game on May 6, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. 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 Jason Bradwell/NBAE via Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IA - MAY 6: a general view of the WNBA Championships trophies during the game between the Washington Mystics vs the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA pre-season game on May 6, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. 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 Jason Bradwell/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Washington Mystics (-12.5, -110)
Indiana Fever
Total: 153.5, -110

The offseason was very calm for the Mystics, especially after the year prior the team made a big splash by acquiring former MVP Elena Delle Donne and champion point guard Kristi Toliver.  That said, head coach and general manager Mike Thibault did add some nice pieces.

Veteran guard Monique Currie has moved to the District, while rookies Ariel Atkins and Myisha Hines-Allen also are on the squad now. LaToya Sanders also rejoins the team after a year away due to overseas obligations. The team faced a slew of injuries last year, resulting in some inconsistent play, but still managed to make a run all the way to the semifinals of the playoffs. They finished middle-of-the-road in most important statistical categories, but they overcame some of their deficiencies with a top 4 rebounding percentage, while also making the second most three-pointers a game (6.8) and owning the second lowest turnover percentage as well.

While Washington tries to continue their march towards becoming champions, the Fever are still very much in rebuild mode. With the exception of Shenise Johnson, Indiana has no players with more than six years of experience and only have three players with five years or more. Now, the youth they do have has the chance to be really good.

South Carolina product Tiffany Mitchell has shown flashes over her first two seasons and scored 11 points in the Fever’s season opening loss, while Kelsey Mitchell (second leading scorer in NCAAW history) and Victoria Vivians (2000+ point scorer and led Mississippi State to two straight NCAAW national championship games) were both top eight picks in this year’s draft and appear to have very high ceilings. All that said, the Fever ranked at or near the bottom in offensive and defensive rating, effective field goal percentage and opponents rebounding percentage (among others) last season. All those issues appeared again in their season opening loss to the Chicago Sky two nights ago.

The Fever are going to compete every night under Pokey Chatman but the youth is going to cause a lot of headaches. I’ll give the points and take Washington and I’ll take the over as well.

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