Sky vs Mercury WNBA Finals Odds – Game 1 Preview and Picks
By Mitchell Hansen in WNBA
Published:
- Chicago and Phoenix will kick off the best-of-five WNBA Finals in Game 1 at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 10th on ABC
- The Sky enter the championship series as the sixth seed, while the Mercury come in as the fifth seed in the postseason
- See below for the latest odds, analysis and the best bet for Game 1
After both the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury completed upset victories in the semifinals, the two teams will meet up in the best-of-five WNBA Finals with a league title on the line starting Sunday, Oct. 10th.
The sixth seed Sky will hit the road to face off against the fifth seed Mercury at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday on ABC. The first team to reach three wins will ultimately take home the WNBA crown in the coming week or two.
Sky vs Mercury WNBA Finals Game 1 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Sky | +3.5 (-110) | +138 | Over 166.5 (-108) |
| Phoenix Mercury | -3.5 (-110) | -170 | Under 166.5 (-112) |
Odds as of Oct. 9th at FanDuel
WNBA Finals Schedule and TV Times
| Game 1 – Oct. 10th | Time | TV information |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago at Phoenix | 3 p.m. ET | ABC |
| Game 2 – Oct. 13th | Time | TV information |
| Chicago at Phoenix | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Game 3 – Oct. 15th | Time | TV information |
| Phoenix at Chicago | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN2 |
| Game 4 (if necessary) – Oct. 17th | Time | TV information |
| Phoenix at Chicago | 3 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Game 5 (if necessary) – Oct. 19th | Time | TV information |
| Chicago at Phoenix | 9 p.m. ET | ESPN2 |
Sky, Mercury Both Look to Continue Underdog Runs
Both Chicago and Phoenix have had quite the journey to reach the WNBA Finals, with both teams playing the underdog role for most of their playoff runs. But neither team has let that stop them, and they now turn their focus to each other for the league title.
The Mercury ended the summer with a record of 19-13 to secure the fifth seed, taking down eighth seed New York in the first round, fourth seed Seattle in the second round and second seed Las Vegas in the semifinals. The Sky finished the year at 16-16 overall to claim the sixth seed, beating seventh seed Dallas in the first round, third seed Minnesota in the second round and top seed Connecticut in the semifinals.
LET'S BRING #WNBA FINALS TO CHICAGO! 💙 pic.twitter.com/9vZrPy8B9L
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) October 7, 2021
Both Chicago and Phoenix have been impressive in the paint and holding opposing teams in check on that area of the court. The Sky showcased that against a talented Sun team, while the Mercury did the same against the Aces. With that said, this series will likely come down to who can break down the opposing team’s defense more often, a chess match that will be really interesting to follow.
FINALS CLINCHED!
For the fifth time in franchise history, your Mercury are headed to the WNBA Finals!Tickets for home games 1 & 2 go on sale TONIGHT!
Game 1: Sun, Oct 10 and Game 2: Wed, Oct 13. Stay tuned…#4TheValley pic.twitter.com/nWmdvwWYC7
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) October 9, 2021
Leading the way for Chicago throughout the playoffs has been Kahleah Copper, averaging 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Behind her, Courtney Vandersloot has averaged 14 points, 8.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds, Candace Parker has averaged 13.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and five assists and Allie Quigley has added 13.3 points per game.
For Phoenix, the trio of Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith have once again been the leading force in the postseason. Griner has averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, Diggins-Smith has averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 assists and Taurasi has averaged 15.2 points, 4.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds.
Rematch of the 2014 WNBA Finals
The Finals showdown between Chicago and Phoenix features a rematch of the 2014 WNBA Finals, a series which saw the Mercury sweep the Sky to claim their third and most recent league title.
Chicago and Phoenix squared off three times this season, with the Mercury taking all three games. Phoenix won the first contest in Chicago on June 1, later edging out another win in the second game in Phoenix on June 3. In the third game, the Mercury defended home court with a 103-83 win to complete the sweep.
Regardless of how the regular season played out, these teams are much different squads playing well at the perfect time. And the star power and storylines on both sides of the series will be entertaining to keep an eye on starting Sunday in Game 1.
Prediction and Best Bet
Although both teams have been playing well as of late, Chicago has arguably been playing a bit better than Phoenix and has put together more consistent performances to this point in the postseason. With that said, the Sky could likely go into Phoenix and steal a Game 1 win on Sunday to grab a 1-0 advantage in the Finals.
For the best bet of the night, go with Chicago and the spread of +3.5 that was set going into Sunday, especially if the Sky do pull out a road win.
The Pick: Chicago +3.5 (-110)
Mitchell has a decade of experience in journalism, marketing, communications and digital fields, having covered sports teams and leagues on all levels. He has spent more than seven years covering the WNBA and NBA, among other sports. You can follow him on Twitter @M_Hansen13.
