Fever vs Sky Picks and Prediction – 8/30/2024

The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky face off on Friday, with both teams fighting to stay relevant in the WNBA playoff race. The Fever, sitting at 15-16, are coming off an impressive 84-80 win against Connecticut, while the Sky, now 11-19, have dropped the last four games, including a 74-70 loss to Washington. Take the WNBA by storm with our WNBA picks.

The Indiana Fever have been a solid force on offense this season, ranking third in the league with an average of 83 points per game. Kelsey Mitchell has led the charge, scoring 18.3 points per game, while Aliyah Boston has been a dominant presence with 13.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. 

Indiana's defense, however, has shown shortcomings, particularly the perimeter defense, as they are ranked 12th in steals per game. Despite this, the offense, combined with solid rebounding—fifth in the league at 35.3 boards per game—gives them an edge. The Fever also boast a 44.8% field goal percentage, placing them fourth in the league, indicating efficiency on the offensive end.

The Chicago Sky, on the other hand, have struggled offensively, ranking 11th in the league with an average of 78 points per game. Chennedy Carter has been a bright spot, leading the team with 17.2 points per game, but the Sky’s inconsistency, particularly in shooting, has been the team’s downfall. Chicago ranks 11th in field goal percentage and 10th in three-point shooting, showing a clear struggle to convert scoring opportunities. 

Defensively, the Sky are slightly better, with a turnover rate of 12.8 per game, but rebounding strength—first in the league with 37.5 rebounds per game—has been the most reliable asset. Chicago’s ability to dominate the boards could be a critical factor in this matchup, especially if they can translate those rebounds into second-chance points.

The Fever have been more consistent and efficient offensively, and with Chicago's recent struggles, Indiana should have the upper hand. The Fever's ability to score at a high rate combined with rebounding should be enough to outpace the Sky. Final Score Prediction: Indiana Fever win 84-78.