The Chicago Sky are entering their third consecutive playoff run without having reached the WNBA semifinals. Tonight, they face a single-elimination game to kick off the 2021 postseason against the Dallas Wings, who hold some favorable statistics.
Illinois sportsbooks are anticipating a close game due to factors such as the total in the regular-season series, the Sky’s inconsistency, and Dallas’ offensive prowess. This is expected to result in a game with several crucial possessions.
Thursday’s conflict for the Chicago Sky finals against Dallas
The IL sports betting apps were in general consensus about the small difference in parlays and spreads for the upcoming game. It is now in the hands of the bettors to decide which Sky team they think will prevail in tonight’s match, airing on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. CST.
| Sportsbook | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetRivers Sportsbook | Dallas + 4. 5 – 108 Chicago 4.5 – 115 |
167 + – 112 167 – 112 Under |
+ 160 Houston Chicago – 195. |
| Caesars in William Hill | Dallas + 5 – 110. Chicago – 5 – 110. |
Between 167 and 110 between 167 and 110 |
Dallas + 190. 230 Chicago |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Dallas + 5 – 110. Chicago – 5 – 110. |
Between 167 and 110 between 167 and 110 |
Dallas + 185. – 225 Chicago |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Dallas + 5. 5 – 118 Chicago: 5. 5 – 104 |
over 166.5 – 112 Under 166.5 – 108 |
+ 180 Texas – 225 Chicago |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Dallas + 5 – 110. Chicago – 5 – 110. |
Between 167 and 110 between 167 and 110 |
Dallas + 175. – 221 Chicago |
Dallas & rsquo, talented roster, presents a plethora of issues
Dallas emerged victorious in both of the last two regular season games against Chicago, one of which took place at Wintrust Arena. The key factor in Chicago’s sole win and Dallas’ dominance was the Sky’s ability to force Arike Ogunbowale, the top scorer for Dallas, to carry the team on her own.
In the Wings’ game against Dallas on June 30, all players except Ogunbowale combined for just 54 points in the Sky’s victory. Ogunbowale took more shots than the other five starters combined. However, Ogunbowale struggled with a shooting percentage below 40%.
Three days later, she took half as many shots and the other Wings players, in addition to Ogunbowale, scored 82 points. Ogunbowale’s ability to pick her shots improved her shooting percentage to exactly 40% during the game.
The Sky must confront unresolved cases of murder that have been ignored in order to progress this year. They have shown glimpses of their ability to be successful in this area.
What happened to all the pots?
The Sky made history this season by scoring a record percentage of points off assists, with over 70% of their baskets coming from assists. Courtney Vandersloot, the team’s point guard, once again led the league in assists per game, showing why Sky fans rely on her to set up scoring opportunities.
Unfortunately, the team’s effectiveness waned during the final stretch of the regular season. The Washington Mystics lost by 30 points to the Las Vegas Aces at Wintrust after three key players were sidelined due to injuries. Chicago had difficulty beating the Indiana Fever, who only had six active players in the regular-season game.
The Sky committed an average of 12 fumbles during those three activities and seemed lifeless for long stretches. If this trend continues on Thursday night, the Chicago Sky may once again come up short of the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
If the Sky wins on Thursday, what happens?
The WNBA playoffs consist of four rounds, with the first two featuring single-elimination games. The tournament is re-seeded after each round. The second round is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 26.
The outcome of Thursday’s late game between the fifth-seeded Phoenix Mercury and the eighth-seeded New York Liberty will determine the sixth seed in the playoffs. The winner will face the Sky’s opponent in round two.
If Phoenix wins, Chicago could face the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. If New York wins, the Sky may travel to play against the defending champions, the Seattle Storm. Minnesota has the higher seed between the two teams, meaning they will face the lowest remaining seed from the first round.
If Chicago wins on Sunday, they will have advanced to the finals for the first time since 2014. While defeating either the Connecticut Sun or the Aces in a best-of-five series may be challenging, simply reaching that point would be a significant achievement.
