Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/18/21
It’s an interconference contest on the hardwood in the WNBA coming to you from the Big Apple. The Seattle Storm are on the road as they travel to face the New York Liberty in the first game of a two-game set Wednesday night. Seattle was edged 87-85 in overtime by Chicago in their first regular season game out of the Olympic break on the road Sunday afternoon. New York was knocked off 88-78 on the road by Minnesota in their first game after the break Sunday. The Storm have won four straight meetings and seven of the last eight in the series, including a 105-64 demolition as the “home” team in the bubble in the most recent matchup on August 18, 2020.
Seattle Storm Look to Regroup After OT Loss
Seattle was beaten on the road in their first regular season game after the break: they did win the Commissioner’s Cup prior to that last week. The Storm dropped to 16-6 on the season and entered Tuesday tied with Las Vegas for the top record in the league. They were second in the WNBA playoff picture as the Aces own the season series edge. Against Chicago, Seattle started strong, leading 17-6 midway through the first quarter, but gradually let it slip away. The Storm’s lead was five after the opening quarter and they trailed by three at the half before regrouping to lead by two after three quarters. After Chicago forced overtime, the Storm battled for the first half of the extra session but scored only two points over the final 2:27 to end up a bucket short. Seattle shot 34.5% from the field, including six of 18 from three-point range, and went 21 of 28 at the free throw line in the loss. Jewell Loyd led the Storm with 26 points and five steals in the loss. The team rested Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird in the contest.
The Storm comes into this contest second in the league in scoring offense with an average of 86.4 points per game. Seattle is third in rebounding (36.9 boards per contest) and is first in the league in assists by dishing out 21.6 dimes per night this year. The Storm are 5th in scoring defense as they allow 80 points a game so far this year. Breanna Stewart leads the team with 20.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Jewell Loyd (17.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, four assists) and Sue Bird (10.9 points, 5.5 assists) are solid secondary options. Coach Noelle Quinn has a solid group to work with as her team can get production from Katie Lou Samuelson, Jordin Canada, Ezi Magbegor, Stephanie Talbot, Kennedy Burke, Epiphanny Prince and Kiana Williams. The Storm are third in the league in field goal percentage as they convert 45% of their shots from the floor this year. Seattle is third in the league in three-point field goals made per game (nine) and first in three-point percentage as they knock down 39% percent from beyond the arc. The Storm are above average at the line, ranking fourth in the league by converting 82.3% of their chances. Mikiah Herbert Harrington is out for the year as she is pregnant.
New York Liberty Trying to Stop Their Slide
New York lost for the 11th time in 16 games after their 5-1 start as Minnesota handed them their third straight defeat. The Liberty fell to 10-12 on the year and entered Tuesday seventh in the WNBA playoff picture, one game ahead of ninth-place Dallas to remain on the right side of the cut line. Against Minnesota, New York trailed by three after the opening quarter, by as many as 10 in the first half and by four at halftime. The Liberty rallied to hold a one-point lead after three quarters and was within one with 3:42 to play before fading. New York gave up an 8-0 run over the next two-plus minutes as part of a 14-5 blitz to end the game and take the loss. The Liberty shot 45.1% from the field, including six of 20 from three-point range, while losing the rebounding battle 36-30. Natasha Howard led New York with 30 points in her first game since spraining her MCL on May 24.
The Liberty comes into this contest 10th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 79.2 points per game. New York is 10th in rebounding (34 boards a night) and sixth with 19.3 assists per contest. The Liberty ranks 11th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 85.1 points per game. Betnijah Laney leads the Liberty with 18.6 points plus five assists a night this season. Sabrina Ionescu (10.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, six assists) and Michaela Onyenwere (9.6 points) are also capable scoring options. Sami Whitcomb (12.1 points, 5.7 boards), Natasha Howard (19.7 points), Kylee Shook, Rebecca Allen, Jazmine Jones, Reshanda Gray and DiDi Richards are key contributors for coach Walt Hopkins. New York is 6th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 43% from the floor as a team. The Liberty is first in the league in made threes per game (9.9) while ranking fifth in three-point shooting at 35.7%. New York is 10th in free throw percentage as they cash in 79.1% of their chances at the stripe.
Pick: Seattle Storm
The fact that the Storm didn’t play Bird or Stewart against Chicago on the road and still put up 85 points while losing by two in overtime is a testament to the depth the team has. Seattle now has their top two stars rested and ready to go for this one, which can only bode ominously for New York. The Liberty has faded after their hot start to the season and they come into this contest with three straight losses. New York is 5-5 at home but they have been outscored by an average of 4.8 points per game in those contests. Meanwhile, Seattle has strung together an 8-3 road record while outscoring the opposition by 8.8 points a contest. Given the way the Storm has played this season when they are at full strength, and the way the Liberty has floundered, you have to think Seattle earns the win here.
Total: Over
Seattle piled up 85 points without two of their three stars Sunday. Now they face a Liberty team that is second-worst in the league when it comes to scoring defense this season. Seattle is third in the league in field goal percentage and leads the league in three-point shooting this season. The Storm have seen the under hit in 12 of their 22 games on the year. Meanwhile, New York is the flip of that as the over has hit in 12 of their 22 contests. Both meetings in the bubble last season went over the number. With New York struggling on the defensive end of the floor, this one is more of a track meet and that pushes things over the total.
