The WNBA regular season is heating up as two pivotal matchups have taken center stage this weekend, featuring the Indiana Fever hosting the Chicago Sky and the Phoenix Mercury welcoming the Atlanta Dream. Both games offer fans a glimpse into the league’s most compelling storylines: emerging stars, historic performances, and the relentless chase for playoff positioning.
Friday night in Indianapolis, the Indiana Fever (17-14) squared off against the struggling Chicago Sky (8-22) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever entered the contest as heavy favorites, with bookmakers setting the spread at -11 and the moneyline at -600 in their favor. The Sky, meanwhile, were longshots at +440, hoping to pull off a major upset in enemy territory.
Much of the pregame buzz revolved around Sophie Cunningham, who has stepped up in a major way for the Fever, particularly in the absence of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Cunningham, averaging 8.6 points per game this season, has elevated her play over the last ten games, bumping her scoring average to 11.9 points per contest. Her increased aggressiveness has been evident—she’s now taking seven shots per game, with five of those coming from beyond the arc. That’s a significant uptick, and it’s paying dividends for Indiana’s offense.
The matchup looked tailor-made for Cunningham to continue her hot streak. The Sky have struggled defensively all season, ranking 10th in points allowed per game and 12th in points allowed to guards. Their perimeter defense has been particularly porous, giving up the second-most three-pointers to opposing guards. With Cunningham’s recent shooting surge, expectations were high for her to hit double digits in scoring. In fact, the best bet across several sportsbooks was for Cunningham to tally at least 10 points, with DraftKings offering odds of -105 on that outcome.
“This is a smash spot for Cunningham, who has been rolling,” read one expert’s analysis. “In a spot like this, taking her to score in double-digits is my favorite play, but she’s displayed upside recently that we can’t ignore. Over her last ten games, she has scored at least 15 points in four of them.” The same analysis suggested laddering up to 12+ points at +170 and even 15+ points at +400, reflecting just how much confidence bettors and analysts alike have in Cunningham’s current form.
As the Fever looked to cover the sizeable spread, all eyes were on how Cunningham would exploit the Sky’s defensive weaknesses. The game’s over/under was set at 163.5, indicating expectations for a high-scoring affair—another nod to both teams’ offensive capabilities and Chicago’s defensive woes.
While the Fever were focused on consolidating their playoff position, the Sky were desperate to snap out of their funk. With a record of just 8-22, Chicago’s season has been marred by inconsistency and poor defensive showings, especially against sharp-shooting guards. The task at hand was daunting, but the Sky have shown flashes of resilience throughout the campaign. Would this be the night they turned the tables? As the game tipped off on CBS, fans settled in for what promised to be an entertaining clash.
Meanwhile, the spotlight shifted to Phoenix on Sunday evening as the Mercury (19-11) prepared to host the Atlanta Dream (19-11) in a battle of surging playoff contenders. The Mercury, riding a three-game winning streak, were slight favorites at -3.5 on the spread and -165 on the moneyline. The Dream, however, entered the contest with even more momentum, having rattled off four straight victories of their own.
What made this matchup particularly intriguing was the presence of Alyssa Thomas, who has been rewriting the WNBA record books. Thomas has delivered three consecutive triple-doubles—a feat never before accomplished in league history. Her all-around brilliance has not only vaulted her into the MVP conversation but also transformed the Mercury into one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
“Thomas has been leading the way while becoming the first player in WNBA history to record three consecutive triple-doubles,” noted one analyst. “She’s also added eight steals and one block over that span, providing two-way impact. The rest of the roster makes so much more sense when Thomas is playing at this level, as she can find open shooters on the perimeter.”
The Mercury’s recent hot streak included wins over the Indiana Fever (without Caitlin Clark), the Connecticut Sun, and the Chicago Sky (who were missing Angel Reese). Each of those victories showcased Phoenix’s growing chemistry and Thomas’s ability to orchestrate the offense. Notably, the Mercury have jumped out to double-digit leads after the first quarter in their last two games, underscoring the importance of a fast start.
For those looking to wager, the best bets included Phoenix to win outright on the moneyline, cover the -3.5 spread, and hit the over on 164.5 total points. There was also considerable interest in the player prop market, with Thomas’s odds to notch a fourth straight triple-double set at +475 on DraftKings. While she fell short of a triple-double against Atlanta on August 1—finishing seven assists shy—her season average of 9.2 assists per game suggested another historic performance was well within reach.
The Dream, for their part, were looking to prove that their earlier 95-72 thrashing of the Mercury on August 1 was no fluke. Since that blowout win, Atlanta has tightened up defensively and found a new gear offensively, winning three straight games and playing some of their best basketball of the season. The stakes couldn’t be higher as both teams jostle for playoff seeding and look to make a statement heading into the final stretch.
“This is a good opportunity for the Mercury to make a statement entering the home stretch of the regular season,” one betting preview stated. With revenge on their minds and the home crowd behind them, Phoenix was expected to come out firing in the opening frame, just as they had in their previous two outings.
As the weekend’s action unfolds, fans are treated to a showcase of the WNBA’s brightest stars and most compelling narratives. Will Sophie Cunningham continue her scoring surge and help the Fever cover the spread against a struggling Chicago defense? Can Alyssa Thomas make history again and lift the Mercury over a red-hot Dream squad? The answers are playing out in real time, with playoff implications hanging in the balance.
With the regular season winding down, every possession, every hot streak, and every defensive stop takes on added significance. Whether you’re tuning in for the record-breaking performances, the betting intrigue, or just the sheer thrill of elite women’s basketball, this weekend’s WNBA slate is delivering the goods.
As both games progress, the storylines remain alive and unresolved. The Fever and Mercury are battling to assert their dominance, while the Sky and Dream look to play spoiler and keep their own postseason hopes alive. All eyes remain glued to the action, with the promise of more drama—and perhaps more history—still to come.
