Published Aug 2, 1:08am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Aug 2, 1:08am ET
Shutterstock
Updated Aug 2, 1:08am ET
One of Monday's WNBA matchups features the Seattle Storm visiting the New York Liberty. Which team has the edge in our Storm vs Liberty pick?
|
|
|---|---|
| New York Liberty | -9.5 (-107) |
| Seattle Storm | +9.5 (-112) |
Following an 18-point win over the Sparks, Seattle has dropped eight straight. This difficult stretch includes a 98-89 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Friday.
ALSO SEE: Aces vs Dream | Odds and WNBA Pick (Aug 3)
The Storm trailed by 14 points at intermission before rallying to cut the deficit in half by the end of the third quarter. Unfortunately, Seattle's defense faltered down the stretch, as Atlanta racked up 32 points in the final frame, sealing its fifth straight win.
Natisha Hiedeman delivered a 23-point performance, adding five rebounds and five assists. Dominque Malonga poured in 16 and grabbed 13 rebounds, giving the Storm a formidable one-two punch despite the loss.
Meanwhile, the Liberty are surging, having won four of their last five games. Their recent triumph was a 94-92 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday.
New York was up by eight points in the final minute before Phoenix made one final push. Kahleah Copper hit two free throws, and DeWanna Bonner buried a three to trim the deficit to two with 24 seconds left. Breanna Stewart answered with two free throws, extending the Liberty's lead back to four, and Alyssa Thomas added a layup, providing the game's final scoring margin.
Sabrina Ionescu was New York's top performer, putting up a game-high 27 points, along with 10 assists and seven rebounds. Han Xu led the bench unit with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes of action, giving the Liberty meaningful production from the second unit.
Here's what you need to know for both teams ahead of this tilt.
The Storm are winless in their last five road outings, while New York has fared better at home, posting a 3-2 mark in its last five at Barclays Center. Given Seattle's season-long struggles and the Liberty operating with the fourth-best offense in the association, backing New York is the wise play here.
|
Pick
New York Liberty (-9.5)
|
New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
|
