Now here’s a fun early-season measuring stick contest. The defending champion Las Vegas Aces moved to 3-1 on Friday night, looking strong in their push for this core to win a fourth ring. But the Atlanta Dream figure to be one of the best teams in the WNBA this season, and are off to a 2-0 start themselves. Get your popcorn ready for this matinee melee.

Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET. The Aces are 1.5-point favorites with -130 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at O/U 172.5 points.

Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Aces-Dream game.

Aces vs. Dream Preview

Friday’s contest for the Aces against the Sun could have been a scary one. Connecticut, arguably the worst team in the league and in the midst of a tank, kept things surprisingly close. But four-time MVP A’ja Wilson was not to be denied, going off for 45 points and bringing home the W.

Vegas’ defense has been excellent as usual, but the offense has been off to a clunky start. Perhaps a performance like the one they got from Wilson can galvanize the rest of the lineup to get better results.

On paper, the Dream can field one of the best lineups in the league. Adding Angel Reese to a team featuring Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Naz Hillmon, and Jordin Canada is incredible. They already had high-level defense, shooting, and plenty of drivers; now they add an elite rebounder and paint protector to the mix. It sure makes things fun for head coach Karl Smesko.

The main question about this team is depth, which was a problem last year. Other than Te-Hina PaoPao, they don’t have any established contributors coming off the bench. The expansion drafts cost everyone, but top-heavy teams like the Dream were hurt even more. Can they get consistency from Australian youngster Isobel Borlase? Madina Okot was a bit of a project pick in the first round, but she may need to provide some backup minutes to Reese and Hillmon. It’s a tricky situation, one that may need to be addressed by the trade deadline.

Now we have a good idea what to expect from these teams. Who is going to come out the winner?

Aces vs. Dream Pick, Best Bet

These squads sure feel well-matched — stars all around, elite two-way play, and a pitched battle between two excellent coaches. I’m surprised to see Atlanta as the home underdogs here, and can’t ignore the value. The Aces are not to be trifled with, but the Dream are one of the few teams who can match them.

Best Bet: Atlanta Dream Moneyline (+110)