Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty WNBA Preview and Prediction
The Sky sit near the bottom of the standings, losers of five straight, while the Liberty, last year’s champions, are wobbling, dropping three of their previous five. However, the Liberty are 14-4 at home this season.
Injuries have gutted New York’s front-court, with Breanna Stewart still sidelined, Nyara Sabally nursing a knee issue, and Isabelle Harrison in concussion protocol. That opens the door for Chicago’s bruising bigs to test New York’s depth down low.
New York is a 12.5-point favourite to win on the WNBA odds, with the total set at 164.5.
Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty WNBA Odds and Betting Trends
The Liberty are installed as heavy favourites at -500 on the moneyline and -12.5 on the point spread, but recent form makes that line worth a second look. Chicago hasn’t done much in the way of covering the spread in August with Angel Reese out, but with her back, the Sky lead the league in offensive rebounding. New York, meanwhile, has slumped to 13th in offensive rebounding since Stewart was sidelined. The Liberty are also just 2-7 ATS in August.
Chicago Sky
For all of their flaws, the Sky know their identity: smash-mouth basketball in the paint. Second-year star Angel Reese leads the WNBA in boards (12.6 per game) and paces Chicago in scoring (14.2 PPG), while fellow giant Kamilla Cardoso chips in 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest. Elizabeth Williams adds depth up front, giving Chicago an old-school, three-headed big rotation.
Reese just returned from a back injury, reminding bettors that when she’s active, Chicago dominates the glass. The issue? A leaky defence that ranks last in opponent fast break points and points off turnovers.
New York Liberty
It’s been a tough stretch for Sandy Brondello’s squad without Stewart, Sabally, and Harrison. Jonquel Jones has carried the load inside but has been outmanned at times. Luckily for Liberty fans, the backcourt has stayed steady. Sabrina Ionescu is a walking mismatch, averaging 19.2 points and hitting free throws at a 93 per cent clip. She’s burned Chicago before – 38 points across two meetings – and should feast again against the Sky’s porous perimeter defence. If even one of Harrison or Sabally suits up, New York’s front-court rotation looks a lot less dire.
WNBA Prediction: Who Will Win Chicago Sky vs New York Liberty?
The Liberty are too talented to lose to the Sky at home, and they just got a big confidence-boosting win against the WNBA-best Minnesota Lynx at home on Tuesday, despite the Lynx missing MVP favourite Napheesa Collier. At home, Ionescu should run wild, and the Liberty should make it two consecutive wins.
Still, this isn’t the same New York squad that steamrolled Chicago earlier this season by 25 and 19 points. With Reese and Cardoso patrolling the paint, the Sky are built to make this ugly and hang around.
Best Bet: Chicago Sky +12.5
Final Score Prediction: Liberty 87 | Sky 80