Sky Face Mercury with Over 166.5 Points Recommended

The WNBA season is about a week old, making it too soon to draw firm conclusions about teams. Chicago Sky host Phoenix Mercury as the Sky seek to build on their early success.

The Sky rank among basketball's most poorly run franchises. They have featured great players but hold just one championship. No clear fix exists for their issues, though they struggle to keep drafted talent. Aside from Kamilla Cardoso, the team lacks homegrown players from their drafts. They acquire talent only to let it go.

Front office moves have drawn questions, yet the Sky assembled a solid roster this season, against expectations. They stand 2-0. That mark means little so early. Judgment awaits tougher tests beyond last year's newcomers. Portland Tempo debuted against the Sky. Golden State sits in its second season after a solid prior year.

Phoenix Mercury count as one of the league's top franchises. They offer good facilities that draw players. Last season, they reached the WNBA Finals before Las Vegas Aces beat them. This year brings a bid to reclaim that spot and claim the title.

Mercury need sharper play than their 1-2 start shows, including 0-1 at home. Their win crushed the Aces in revenge fashion. Losses followed to Golden State and Minnesota. The Lynx loss stings less without Napheesa Collier, sidelined by ankle injury.

Adjustments loom for Mercury. They lack crispness but average 87 points on offense.

Sky lean on offense for bare minimums and defense to clamp down. They hold interior edge for easy low-post buckets. The over 166.5 total looks strong.

Kahleah Copper offers value over her points line. She struggled in two games before erupting last time. Same angles return. Her athleticism exploits Sky bigs. Since joining Phoenix, she posted 29, 7, 16, 25 and 28 points across five games against them.