Sky vs Dream Betting Preview: Atlanta Trying to Correct Second-Half Woes

The Atlanta Dream will host the Chicago Sky on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET) at Gateway Center. Atlanta opened as a 2-point favorite (-110) and -125 on the moneyline, with Chicago priced +105. The projected total is 164.5 (-110).

Read on as we break down both teams in our Sky vs Dream betting preview.

August Unfriendly for Dream

The Atlanta Dream lost three straight last week and are 1-5 in August, dropping them to fifth in the WNBA standings. While the Dream (15-16) still have a firm grasp on a playoff spot, with a 2.5-game lead on the eighth place Chicago Sky, their recent slump has prompted questions about their sustainability as a contender. Fortunately, with only one game this week, they’ve had some time to recuperate while chasing their first postseason berth since 2018.

What specifically has caused this recent slide? Start with their inability to score. The Dream are averaging just 71.8 points this month,10.5 below their season average. They’ve been a relatively productive offensive team for the most part, ranking fifth in the league in scoring. Their backcourt, fueled by reigning Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard and first-time All-Star Allisha Gray, is bound to only get better. But consistency has been lacking across the board of late.

They rolled into the All-Star break in mid-July with six consecutive wins, then pushed that streak to seven their first game back. Since then, however, Atlanta is just 3-8 and has yet to win back-to-back games. As such, Atlanta is a +15000 longshot to win the WNBA Finals.

Notably, Howard, who is averaging a team-high 17.5 points and 1.4 steals per WNBA stats, is listed as day-to-day on the team’s injury report, albeit without a specific injury designation. She has appeared in all 31 games this season, with 26 starts. Keep that in mind while assessing the odds in our Sky vs Dream betting preview.

Sky Clinging to Playoff Hopes

Like Atlanta, Chicago is searching for consistency. The Sky followed up a promising three-game winning streak with three consecutive losses. That dropped them to 12-18, fifth in the Eastern Conference and into a virtual tie with the Los Angeles Sparks for the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Sky’s issues are multi-faceted. In addition to struggling mightily at home (5-10), the Sky have been futile against Eastern Conference foes. They’re just 3-12 within the conference, including 0-3 against the Dream. Oddsmakers remain confident they’ll fix those issues, pricing the Sky -165 to make the playoffs. They’re also a +25000 longshot to win it all. However, with only 10 games remaining in the regular season, time is running out.

Three-time All-Star Kahleah Copper remains Chicago’s top scorer, averaging 18.9 points per game. Guards Marina Mabrey (15.0 PPG) and Courtney Williams (10.1) have joined Copper in double figures, while Williams also ranks fourth in the WNBA in assists (6.2). It’s a solid trio, but not one that’s going to make anyone forget the 2021 WNBA title squad.

Chicago’s inability to replace franchise icons Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot continues to loom large. Both left in free agency last summer, with Parker joining the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces and Vandersloot signing with the New York Liberty.

Handicapping the Game

The Dream have already beaten the Sky three times this season. The margin of victory in those games: 18, 14 and 11. That doesn’t inspire much confidence, especially as Chicago tries to climb out of a skid that has its playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Howard averaged a healthy 23 points in those wins, including a game-high 32 in the most recent matchup on July 9, an 88-77 victory.

The 6-foot-2 Howard is a difficult matchup for anyone, especially the Sky, who miss the defensive presence of Parker. The Sky are an enigma, and until they start playing with more consistency, it’s hard to put much trust in them. Therefore, Atlanta should be a slight favorite in our Sky vs Dream betting preview.

For WNBA predictions, betting news, odds and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Get into the field and play with more related info:

• Current WNBA West Standings: Las Vegas Lords Over Division
• Liberty vs Aces Betting Preview: New York Has Las Vegas on the Ropes
• Liberty vs Aces Betting Odds Preview: For the Commissioner’s Cup
• Mystics vs Aces Betting Odds: Injuries Taking Toll on Fading Washington
• Sky vs Liberty Betting Preview: Liberty Look To Finally Take Down Sky