The Washington Mystics (0-9) host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever (2-9) on Friday evening as both teams look to get going after slow starts. These Eastern Conference foes have been facing off since 2005 and Washington leads the all-time series 40-39. These teams split the season series 2-2 last year.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington D.C. The Fever are 3-point road favorites in the latest Fever vs. Mystics odds, while the over/under for total points is 162. Caitlin Clark is +550 to score first in the game and her over/under for total points is 17.5. Before making any Mystics vs. Fever picks, be sure to see the WNBA predictions from SportsLine’s women’s basketball expert Calvin Wetzel.
Since the start of the 2021-22 women’s college basketball campaign, Wetzel is an insane 1,384-988 (+371.33 units). Wetzel also predicted 66 of 68 NCAA Women’s Tournament teams this year, as well as 62 of 68 teams within one seed line, and correctly picked 13 of 16 second-round games. Anybody following him has seen huge returns.
Now, he has set his sights on Fever vs. Mystics and just locked in his picks and WNBA predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several WNBA betting lines and trends for Mystics vs. Fever:
- Fever vs. Mystics spread: Indiana -3
- Fever vs. Mystics over/under: 162 points
- Fever vs. Mystics money line: Indiana -160, Washington +135
- WASH: Under is 6-1 in Mystics last seven home games
- IND: Fever are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a losing straight-up record
- Fever vs. Mystics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Daftar Isi
Why the Fever can cover
Clark leads the way with an average of 15.6 points and 6.4 assists per game, but the Fever have other threats as well. Forward Aliyah Boston is a two-way force in the frontcourt for the Fever. Boston can score in the low post and owns a nice mid-range jumper. The South Carolina product logs 10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. In the May 30 loss to the Seattle Storm, Boston dropped 11 points, 12 boards and five assists.
Forward NaLyssa Smith brings another dynamic player to the floor. Smith excels in the pick-and-roll with a knack for snagging rebounds. The 23-year-old averages 11.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. She’s totaled 17-plus points in three straight games. In Sunday’s loss to the Liberty, Smith had 17 points and eight rebounds. See which side to back at SportsLine.
Why the Mystics can cover
Guard Ariel Atkins is a high-energy playmaker in the backcourt. She gets out in transition, knocks down perimeter shots and plays solid defense. The 27-year-old averages 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. On May 29 against the Atlanta Dream, Atkins racked up 21 points, eight rebounds, three dimes and two steals.
Guard Julie Vanloo provides Washington with a veteran playmaker in the backcourt. Vanloo has good court vision and is able to hit shots on the outside. The 31-year-old puts up 8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. She’s scored in double figures in four games this season. In a May 25 contest against the Seattle Storm, Vanloo finished with 12 points and three assists. See which side to back at SportsLine.
How to make WNBA picks for Fever vs. Mystics
Wetzel is leaning Under on the point total and he has locked in two Mystics vs. Fever picks — one on a side and a must-see Caitlin Clark prop. Go to SportsLine to see what they are.
Probable Starters
Indiana Fever (2-9)
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (15.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Guard – Caitlin Clark (15.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.4 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (10.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Forward – Kristy Wallace (5.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (11.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 0.9 bpg)
Washington Mystics (0-10)
Guard – Ariel Atkins (12.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.0 apg)
Guard – Karlie Samuelson (9.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Guard – Julie Vanloo (8.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 5.7 apg)
Center – Stefanie Dolson (7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Forward – Aaliyah Edwards (8.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Game Status Report
Indiana: Temi Fagbenle – Out (Left Foot)
Washington: Brittney Skyes – Out (Ankle), Shakira Austin – Out
GAME PREVIEW:
The Washington Mystics (0-10) host the Indiana Fever (2-9) on Friday night at Capital One Arena for the first of four contests this season and both teams’ third Commissioner’s Cup game. The game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION.
Indiana is coming into Friday’s match after a strenuous 11-game in 20-day stint to begin its season. In the Fever’s most recent showing on Sunday, Indiana dropped its second Commissioner’s Cup game against the New York Liberty 104-68. One day before, the Fever were able to grab a 71-70 win against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Against the Sky, all five Fever starters scored in double figures, spearheaded by guard Kelsey Mitchell’s 18 points and Fever forward NaLyssa Smith’s 17 points and nine rebounds. Guards Caitlin Clark and Kristy Wallace totaled 11 points and 10 points, respectively, and Clark pulled down eight rebounds and six assists. Center Aliyah Boston also tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and a career-high four blocks. At New York, Mitchell and Smith led the Fever in scoring as Mitchell scored a season-high 21 points against the Liberty and Smith totaled 17 points and eight rebounds. Sunday’s game was the third game in a row Smith recorded 17 points or more and eight or more rebounds.
On Tuesday, the Mystics faced off against the undefeated Connecticut Sun and fell, 76-59, in Uncasville, Conn. Mystics rookie forward Aaliyah Edwards led Washington in scoring and nearly posted a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Forward Myisha Hines-Allen came off the bench for Washington and posted 10 points and four rebounds. Mystics guards Karlie Samuelson and Ariel Atkins both trailed with nine points and three rebounds apiece. On Thursday at home, Washington nearly clinched its first win of the season against the Chicago Sky, but fell short, 79-71. Edwards led Washington in scoring with a 23-point and career-high 14-rebound double-double, as well as four blocks and two assists. Chicago outscored Washington paint points (48-38) and in bench points (45-21).
Friday’s game marks the first time this season the Samuelson sisters will go head to head in a WNBA regular season matchup. Fever forward Katie Lou Samuelson (in her fifth season) and Mystics guard Karlie Samuelson (in her fifth season) have only played against each other twice in the WNBA. This year in her first season with the Fever, Katie Lou is averaging 18.7 minutes per game, 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. In her first season with the Mystics, Karlie is averaging 9.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
Additionally, Friday’s game will be the first time the 2024 WNBA No. 1 draft pick in Clark and the 2024 No. 6 draft pick Edwards face off this season. Clark and Edwards sit at spots three and four, respectively, in most rebounds per game amongst all rookies, with Clark averaging 5.1 and Edwards averaging 4.8. The last time Clark and Edwards met was on April 5 when Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes beat Edwards’ Connecticut Huskies, 71-69, during the NCAA Final Four.
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