Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty Predictions, WNBA Picks, Betting Tips 7/25/2020

Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty

IMG Academy

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

IMG Academy is the site where Kia Nurse and the New York Liberty (10-24, 5th in the Eastern Conference last season) will take on the Seattle Storm (18-16, 3rd in the Western Conference last year) on Saturday. New York opens this matchup as 5.5 point underdogs. 

The Storm were a pretty good option for bettors last year, having gone 19-16 ATS. New York covered the spread 34.4% of the time, going 11-21 against the spread. The Storm were excellent for WNBA bettors as a favorite, going 9-7 ATS. New York covered the spread 0.0% of the time as an underdog, having gone 0-4 against the spread.

Valuable Seattle Storm Betting Trends

The Storm were a dicey Over choice for over/under wagerers, having gone 15-21.

The Storm covered the spread 50.0% of the time last year as the road team, having gone 9-9 ATS.

Important New York Liberty Betting Trends

The Liberty covered the spread 26.7% of the time last year at IMG Academy, going 4-11 against the spread.

The Liberty were a hot and cold Under choice for over/under wagerers, having gone 18-15.

Related: Gambling 101 Docs Sports - Basketball Handicapping Tips

Player Spotlight

Natasha Howard comes into this contest after averaging 18.1 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per night last season for the Storm. She pulled down 8.2 rebounds per game and dished out 2.1 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage was 44% while her free throw percentage was at 81%. Jewell Loyd averaged 12.3 points per game in 25.4 minutes per contest last season. She averaged 2.0 assists per contest and 2.7 rebounds per game for Seattle. Her field goal percentage was 39% for the year while her free throw percentage was 93%.

Player Spotlight

Kia Nurse averaged 13.7 points per game while playing 29.4 minutes per contest last year for the Liberty. She grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game and had 2.3 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage was 39% and her free throw percentage was at 87%. Layshia Clarendon averaged 6.2 points per game last season and she saw the court an average of 15.3 minutes per contest. She also averaged 2.4 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. Her field goal percentage was 42% and her free throw percentage was 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Seattle averaged 74.8 points per contest last season, which ranked them 10th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin was -0.3 and their shooting percentage was 42% as a team, which had them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shot 34% which was good for 7th in the league. They averaged 32.0 rebounds per game and 17.5 assists per game, which ranked them 12th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 3rd with 14.6 per game. The Storm allowed 75.1 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 1st in the league. They also allowed a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 33.1 rebounds a game which ranked 3rd and they gave up 18.4 assists per contest, which put them in 5th place in the league. They forced 14.9 turnovers per game which ranked them 10th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

New York was 8th in the league with 77.4 points per game last year. They were 10th in the league in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin was -7.3. They shot 33% from 3-point range, which was good for 8th in the WNBA. They were 6th in the league in rebounding with 34.6 boards per game, and 5th in assists per contest with 19.6. The Liberty were 2nd in turnovers per game with 14.7. The Liberty surrendered 84.7 points per contest, which ranked them 12th in the WNBA. Their defense allowed a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 11th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 11th with 20.3 assists allowed per contest and 9th with 35.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Liberty were 4th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per game last season.

Advanced Statistics

The Storm were 9th in the league in defensive rating with 99.1, and their offensive rating of 98.7 was ranked 8th. They were 11th in the WNBA in pace with 75.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% was 7th. As a unit they were 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the WNBA. Seattle was 2nd in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 49%, which was 2nd in the WNBA.

Advanced Statistics

New York was 3rd in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 16.0 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 49%, which was 1st in the league. The Liberty were 10th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 97.4, and their defensive rating of 106.6 was ranked 1st. In terms of pace they were 3rd in the league with 79.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 46% was 10th. As a team they were 10th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shot 3-pointers on 28% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take New York +5.5

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