Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever WNBA preview and prediction

The WNBA’s second-most potent offence meets the third stingiest defence when the Indiana Fever host the Atlanta Dream Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

This is the first of a home-and-home series between the teams, which will meet again Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. The Fever took the first meeting between the teams two weeks ago at home, 83-71.

The Dream have won three of four overall and on the road, including a 102-77 trouncing of the expansion Tempo on Sunday in Toronto.

Allisha Gray had 26 points and seven assists, Rhyne Howard scored 24 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Angel Reese scored 15 points and grabbed 17 boards for her ninth double-double of the season. 

Kelsey Mitchell had 27 points, Caitlin Clark added 21 points and 14 assists, and Aliyah Boston contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, made six three-pointers and tallied 24 points off the bench in a 113-91 victory over those same Tempo on Tuesday in Indianapolis. It was the sixth straight home win for the Fever. 

Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever WNBA Odds and Betting Trends

Indiana sits as a slight 1.5-point favourite on the WNBA odds with a +100 moneyline. Meanwhile, Atlanta is at -120. 

The over/under for this contest is 173.5. The Dream allows just 80.7 points per game, while Indiana is second in the league with 91.6 points per contest. 

Atlanta Dream

Atlanta is proving that last year’s 30-14 first-place finish in the Eastern Conference, the team’s first winning record in seven seasons, was not a fluke.

Gray is seventh in the league with 19.6 points per game, and Howard is close behind in ninth at 17.9. Howard leads the WNBA with 3.5 three-pointers and three steals per contest.

Angel Reese, acquired in the offseason for two first-round draft picks, has grabbed 17 rebounds or more in three of her past four games. She leads the league with 12.3 boards per contest.  

On the injury front, the team is still without Brionna Jones, who averaged 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in her first season with the Dream. She is out indefinitely while recovering from knee surgery. 

Indiana Fever

The Fever have won a season-high four straight games, including three consecutive Commissioner’s Cup contests. Clark had a double-double in points and assists for the second time in three games on Tuesday. 

Clark is averaging 24.3 points and 8.5 assists during the win streak, more than making up for the 5.5 turnovers she is averaging per game in this same stretch. She leads the WNBA with 8.3 assists per contest, and she and Mitchell continue to go back-and-forth as the Fever’s leading scorer.

Along with Boston, Indiana’s Big Three easily outscored Atlanta’s two weeks ago, 61-32. Don’t expect Howard to score just eight points again tonight. 

WNBA Prediction: Who will win Dream vs. Fever?

After dropping their first two home games this season, Indiana has won six straight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, including that victory over the Dream on June 4. They’ve won those six games by an average margin of 12 points.

Atlanta has been sharp on the road, posting a 5-2 mark away from home this season. This should be a good matchup, but Indiana’s home court advantage should win out. Take the Fever to win a good one, 90-87.