Jul 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) reacts against the LA Sparks in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
- The Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky resume WNBA play tonight after almost a month-long hiatus
- The Sky hold the eighth and final playoff spot currently but are just 4-8 at home this season
- See the Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky predictions, odds, and player-prop picks for Thursday, Aug. 15
Off since July 17 for the All-Star Game and Paris Olympics, the 2024 WNBA season resumes tonight with a trio of games, starting with the Phoenix Mercury (13-12, 5-8 away) visiting the Chicago Sky (10-14, 4-8 home) at Wintrust Arena at 7:00 pm CT/8:00 pm ET.
Despite already playing 25 of their 40 regular-season games, this will be Phoenix’s first of three meetings with Chicago this year, which means it’s a homecoming of sorts for longtime Sky superstar Kahleah Copper, who was traded to the Mercury in the offseason after seven seasons in the Windy City.
Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky Predictions
- Mercury moneyline (-135) at DraftKings
- Kahleah Copper under 24.5 points (-140) at bet365
Copper is having the best season of her career in orange and purple, averaging a team-high 23.2 PPG and helping a Mercury team that won just nine games all of last season to keep their collective nose just above .500. Her 2024 performance was so impressive that she elbowed her way onto the hyper-competitive US Olympic team alongside teammates Brittney Griner and 42-year-old Diana Taurasi.
The Mercury’s “big three” of Copper, Griner, and Taurasi are the only players in this game who have seen meaningful game action in the last month and, as such, I expect them to have considerably less rust to shake off than the Chicago vanguard. Additionally, Chicago traded second-leading-scorer Marina Mabrey to Connecticut during the break, in exchange for a 2025 first-round pick and two veterans (Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson).
Both teams entered the Olympic break going 5-5 in their last ten and 2-2 in their last four but Chicago’s long-standing struggles at home have me leaning to the more-talented-on-paper Mercury. Not only is Chicago just 4-8 at home this year, they were a dismal 7-13 at Wintrust Arena last year (compared to 11-9 on the road). They’ll also be adjusting to life without Mabrey, their most-prolific three-point shooter. While she may not have been a great fit alongside leading scorer Chennedy Carter, she was the only Chicago player averaging more than one make per game from beyond the arc (2.3 per game at 34.8 3P%).
Despite backing the Mercury to cover, I also like the under on Copper’s massive point total of 24.5. Not only is that a shade above her season average (23.2), it’s also well below her median point total. In the first 25 games this year, Copper stayed under 24.5 in 14 (including the last two) and only went over in 11. And one of the overs came in a double-OT game when she only had 21 points in regulation.
Mercury vs Sky: Best Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | -2.5 (-108) at DraftKings | -135 at DraftKings | O 165.5 (-110) at all books |
| Sky | +2.5 (-105) at BetMGM | +120 at bet365 | U 165.5 (-110) at all books |
The Mercury vs Sky point spread is sitting at 2.5 at all sportsbooks but there is a little range in the odds. DraftKings has the best price on the Mercury to cover as road favorites at -108 while BetMGM has the best price on the Sky at -105. DraftKings also has the best moneyline for Phoenix at -135 for the Mercury to win straight-up. Both bet365 and BetMGM have the Sky at +120 to pull off a small upset.
The game total opened at 164.5 but is now 165.5 across the board and every book has the odds at -110 both ways.
PHO Mercury vs CHI Sky Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angel Reese (CHI) | 13.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) | 12.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | OFF | OFF |
| Brittney Griner (PHO) | 19.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | 6.5 (Ov -115| Un -115) | OFF | OFF |
| Chennedy Carter (CHI) | 21.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov -145 | Un +114) | OFF | OFF |
| Diana Taurasi (PHO) | 14.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 4.5 (Ov +130 | Un -166) | 3.5 (Ov -145 | Un +114) | 2.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) |
| Kahleah Copper (PHO) | 23.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 4.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -145 | Un +110) |
| Kamilla Cardoso (CHI) | 8.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 4.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | OFF | OFF |
| Natasha Cloud (PHO) | 11.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | OFF | 7.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | OFF |
Player props as of Aug. 15 at DraftKings. See the DraftKings minimum deposit to fund your account.
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
The Phoenix Mercury will face off against the Chicago Sky on August 15th in what is sure to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams in the WNBA. With both teams vying for playoff positioning, this game is crucial for both sides as they look to secure a spot in the postseason.
The Mercury come into this game with a record of 10-10, currently sitting in seventh place in the standings. Led by superstar Diana Taurasi, who is averaging 18.9 points per game, the Mercury have the firepower to compete with any team in the league. Look for Taurasi to have a big game against the Sky’s defense, as she looks to lead her team to victory.
On the other side, the Chicago Sky are currently in fourth place with a record of 12-10. Led by All-Star guard Courtney Vandersloot, who is averaging a league-leading 10.2 assists per game, the Sky have one of the most potent offenses in the league. Look for Vandersloot to control the pace of the game and create scoring opportunities for her teammates.
In terms of player-prop picks, keep an eye on Brittney Griner for the Mercury. Griner is averaging 20.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season and should have a dominant performance against the Sky’s frontcourt. Look for Griner to have a double-double in this game and lead the Mercury to victory.
For the Sky, keep an eye on Kahleah Copper. Copper is averaging 13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season and has been a key contributor for Chicago. Look for Copper to have a big game against the Mercury’s defense and help lead the Sky to a win.
As for the best odds for this game, the Mercury are currently listed as slight favorites with odds of -120, while the Sky are listed at +110. With both teams evenly matched, this game could go either way, but I like the Mercury to come out on top in a close contest.
Overall, this game between the Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky is sure to be a thrilling matchup between two talented teams fighting for playoff positioning. With star players on both sides and plenty of storylines to follow, this game is a must-watch for any WNBA fan.
