The Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky meet Sunday in game 1 of the WNBA Playoffs Second Round at the Wintrust Arena. The Connecticut Sun are coming off a 3-game series win over the Wings. The Chicago Sky are coming off a 3-game series win over the Liberty.
The Connecticut Sun are averaging 81.7 points on 44 percent shooting and allowing 71.7 points on 42.5 percent shooting. Jonquel Jones is averaging 16.7 points and 1 assist, while DeWanna Bonner is averaging 14 points and 2.7 rebounds. Brionna Jones is the third double-digit scorer and Alyssa Thomas is grabbing 8 rebounds. The Connecticut Sun are shooting 28.9 percent from beyond the arc and 78.7 percent from the free throw line. The Connecticut Sun are allowing 31.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 35.7 rebounds per game.
The Chicago Sky are averaging 93.7 points on 48.9 percent shooting and allowing 77.3 points on 42.5 percent shooting. Kahleah Cooper is averaging 18.7 points and 1.3 assists, while Candace Parker is averaging 14.3 points and 11.7 rebounds. Courtney Vandersloot is the third double-digit scorer and Azura Stevens is grabbing 5.3 rebounds. The Chicago Sky are shooting 28.4 percent from beyond the arc and 81.6 percent from the free throw line. The Chicago Sky are allowing 31.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 40.3 rebounds per game.
The Sun are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 road games and 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games overall. The Sky are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 home games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win. The over is 5-2 in Sun last 7 overall. The under is 4-1 in Sky last 5 overall. The Sun are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Chicago and 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
The Chicago Sky are going to be favored for obvious reasons as they're the best team, the defending champs and at home. You can also argue the Liberty series was good for the Sky, and it will get them focused moving forward. The Sky also won all 4 games against the Sun this season. With all that said, the Connecticut Sun are arguably the most talented team in the league, something I've said time and time again this year, and I have a hard time turning them down in the underdog role. The Sun are more than capable of winning this series. Give me the Sun and the free buckets.
AUTHOR: Randy Chambers
Mitch's Take...
