Sky vs Liberty WNBA Pick: Can Chicago Pull Off The Upset? (May 22)

• The Chicago Sky are coming off a 35-point defeat against the Indiana Fever.
• The New York Liberty knocked off the Las Vegas Aces 92-78 in their season opener.
• These squads last played on July 13, 2024, with the Liberty claiming an 81-67 victory.

One of the games on Thursday’s WNBA slate features the Chicago Sky hosting the New York Liberty. Can Chicago keep pace with the defending champs in our Sky vs Liberty pick?

New-Look Sky Seeking To Upset Defending Champs

There is no way to sugarcoat it. The Sky were soundly defeated by the Indiana Fever 93-58 in their season opener. Chicago’s offense did not rise to the occasion, to put it nicely.

Angel Reese was one of only two players who reached double figures, finishing with 12 points and 17 rebounds. However, she had an inefficient shooting night, going 5-for-14 from the field.

Ariel Atkins scored 11 points and collected four rebounds for a Chicago squad that shot 29.1 percent overall and a woeful 22.2 percent from 3-point range.

The game’s outcome was never in doubt, as Indiana held a 13-point edge at the break and led 65-45 heading into the final frame. Thanks to a 28-13 advantage in the fourth quarter, Indiana cruised to an easy victory.

Liberty Look To Improve To 2-0

Meanwhile, the Liberty kicked off their season opener with another matchup against the Las Vegas Aces on the night they received their championship rings.

Breanna Stewart powered the Liberty’s offense with 25 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Natasha Cloud added 22 points, nine dimes, and six boards.

New York led 47-33 at intermission, but Las Vegas battled back to trim the deficit to 66-64 early in the fourth quarter. Cloud responded with consecutive three-point plays, which ignited an 8-0 run that pushed the lead back to double digits (74-64).

Sky vs Liberty Pick: Who Has The Edge In This Eastern Conference Showdown?

Chicago is ranked near the bottom of the league in offense and ranks eighth in defense. Meanwhile, New York leads the field in offensive rating and has the third-best defensive rating.

Additionally, the Liberty have won four of the previous five meetings between these franchises and are 11-3 in their last 14 road contests. With that in mind, this will be a wire-to-wire victory for the defending champs.