Who will come out on top in the battle of the underdogs? Prediction for the Chicago Sky vs Seattle Storm matchup
Chicago Sky
Seattle Storm
In the WNBA regular season, the Chicago Sky will face off against the Seattle Storm. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, with tip-off at 18:00 Central European Time. Here’s my pick for the winner of this contest.
Head-to-head and key stats
- Sky have won only one game out of their last five.
- Storm have lost 11 of 13 away games this season.
- Seattle has defeated Chicago in their last four head-to-head meetings.
Chicago is having a very tough season. The team sits near the bottom of the standings, and with every setback, their playoff hopes slip further away. Despite some bright individual games, the Sky clearly lack consistency, while their rivals continue to pull ahead.
The main problem for the squad remains their play in crunch time. In recent games, Chicago has repeatedly squandered comfortable leads. That was the case in their latest matchup against Dallas, where they led for much of the game but ultimately fell 91-96. Losses like these hurt not just their position in the table, but also the players’ morale.
Earlier, the Sky suffered a tough defeat to the Los Angeles Sparks (87-102), and also failed to hold on against Las Vegas (90-98). These results underline the main trend of the season: the team can put together strong stretches, but lacks the focus and roster depth to close out games with wins.
Chicago doesn’t have many chances left to turn things around. Every win is now crucial, so expect the Sky to come out aggressively at home from the opening tip. However, to succeed, they must significantly tighten up on defense and minimize turnovers in the final quarters.
Seattle can’t call this season a success either, and their position is even more precarious. The Storm are still stuck at the bottom of the table, but every win over direct rivals could bring them closer to a playoff fight.
The past few weeks have been mixed for the club. Seattle first dispatched the Los Angeles Sparks 82-64 with stifling defense and crisp ball movement. Before that, they fell to Portland, and then couldn’t hang on against Washington, losing the closing stretch 79-84.
Despite some missteps, the Storm look more organized than their opponents. They can defend reliably, and their leaders consistently step up when it matters most.
In this matchup against Chicago, the visitors will look to exploit the Sky’s biggest weakness—late-game execution. If the Storm can push the tempo and force the hosts into mistakes under pressure, their chances of winning rise significantly.
What’s the bet?
Chicago are in a tough spot and desperate for wins, but their current form raises a lot of questions. Seattle look like a more balanced team and perform better in clutch moments, but their place in the standings leaves much to be desired. If the visitors can put together a solid defensive display, their odds for success improve. I’m backing the Storm with a +7 points spread.
