Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury Prediction, 7/9/2021 WNBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury

Date: Friday, July 9, 2021

Location: Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, AZ

TV: ESPN

The Phoenix Mercury (8-9) host the Seattle Storm (15-4) at Phoenix Suns Arena on Friday.

The Seattle Storm stepped onto the hardwood against the Los Angeles Sparks and went home with a win by a final score of 71-62 in their last game. Seattle finished the game having earned a 37.7% FG percentage (23 of 61) and converted 5 out of their 20 shots from distance. At the free throw line, the Storm made 20 of their 21 tries for a rate of 95.2%. Regarding hauling in boards, they collected a total of 37 with 14 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 11 assists for this game as well as forcing the opposition into 17 turnovers and having 11 steals. Pertaining to defending, Seattle allowed 35.6% from the floor on 21 out of 59 shooting. Los Angeles distributed 7 assists and had 11 steals in this contest. On top of that, Los Angeles had 28 boards (7 offensive, 21 defensive) and got 5 blocks. Los Angeles finished the contest at 80.0% from the charity stripe by knocking down 16 of 20 attempts. They made 4 out of their 19 tries from distance.

Breanna Stewart is one player who came through in this game. She accounted for 27 points on 8 of 15 shooting. She was on the hardwood for 34:36 mins and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Stewart finished the contest at 53.3% from the floor and also totaled 1 assist. One more player that was a major factor in this contest for the Storm was Jewell Loyd. She pulled down 6 rebounds in her 30:52 minutes on the basketball court. She walked away from this one shooting 38.5% from the floor in the matchup by shooting 5-of-13 (18 points). When the final whistle was blown, Loyd accounted for 2 assists.

Seattle enters this game with a record of 15-4 on the campaign. They are averaging 87.2 points per contest (2nd in the WNBA) while hitting 45.9% from the field. The Storm are hitting 40.0% on shots from 3-point land (173 of 433) and 82.9% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Seattle is pulling in 36.7 boards per game and is sitting with 418 dimes on the season, which has them ranked 1st in the league in terms of passing the rock. They turn it over 12.2 times per contest and as a group are committing 15.7 personal fouls per contest. On defense, the Storm are forcing their opponents into 12.0 turnovers per contest while drawing 17.2 fouls. They are currently ranked 7th in the WNBA in allowing assists to their opponents with 363 surrendered so far this year. The Storm defensively are allowing a field goal percentage of 42.3% (228 of 326) and they surrender 35.4 boards per game as a squad. They surrender 30.6% on shots from downtown while they are 4th in the league in points per game from their opponents (79.6).

The last time they took the court, the Phoenix Mercury went home victorious with a score of 99-90 against the Las Vegas Aces. The Mercury collected 35 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds totaling 45 for the matchup. They turned it over 11 times, while earning 4 steals for this game. The Aces had 21 fouls in this game which got the Mercury to the free throw line for 29 shots. They were able to knock down 25 of them for a percentage of 86.2%. Pertaining to shots from beyond the arc, Phoenix converted 10 out of 27 attempts (37.0%). Overall, the Mercury finished shooting 32 for 74 from the floor which had them at 43.2%. The Mercury allowed the Aces to convert 36 of their 82 tries from the floor which had them shooting 43.9% in the game. They finished shooting 23.1% from beyond the perimeter by shooting 3 of 13 and ended up shooting 15 of 24 from the charity stripe (62.5%). When discussing cleaning the glass, Phoenix allowed Las Vegas to snag 43 in total (9 offensive).

Skylar Diggins-Smith was important for the Mercury for the game. She made 7 out of 20 in this contest for a field goal percentage of 35.0%, and earned 1 rebound. Diggins-Smith scored 27 points in her 42:55 mins on the court and had 8 assists in this contest. Someone else who came through for Phoenix was Brittney Griner. She ended up finishing with 5 dimes in her 41:38 minutes played, and she shot 14 out of 24 from the floor. Griner finished going 58.3% from the floor as well as totaling 33 points and 10 total rebounds.

Phoenix has a record of 8-9 for the season. As an offense, the Mercury are shooting 42.6% from the field, which ranks them 9th in the league. Phoenix has earned 1,356 pts so far this year (79.8 per game) and they pull in 35.8 boards per game. They are assisting teammates 18.3 times per contest (8th in the league) and they are turning it over 12.7 times per contest. The Mercury are responsible for committing 16.9 fouls per game and they connect on 79.4% from the charity stripe. The Mercury defensively are ranked 6th in the league in points per game surrendered with 81.8. They are able to force 9.9 turnovers per game and have allowed teams to shoot 41.9% from the floor (3rd in the league). The Phoenix defense surrenders 32.0% on shots from distance (116 of 363) and opponents are converting on 82.4% of their shots from the charity stripe. They have relinquished 17.9 assists and 36.4 boards on a nightly basis, which has them ranked 4th and 9th in basketball.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Seattle

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