Bring on the W! On Friday, the 1-1 Washington Mystics head to Indiana to take on the 1-1 Fever in a matchup featuring plenty of young star power. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the Fever listed as 8.5-point favorites and the total sitting at 169.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Let’s get into it!

Mystics vs. Fever prediction

The Mystics are coming off a thrilling overtime matchup against the championship-favorite New York Liberty, and despite the loss, there were plenty of encouraging signs from the young core. It was a standout night for the sophomores, as Kiki Iriafen led Washington with 20 points and 12 rebounds while Sonia Citron added 17 points and five boards. However, nothing was falling from deep. Citron missed all six of her three-point attempts, and Washington finished the game shooting an egregious 19% from beyond the arc.

Even with the game going to overtime, the Mystics left plenty of points on the table by missing nine of their 29 free-throw attempts. Bottom line: the young talent is there, but it’s still being overshadowed by early mistakes. One thing Washington has done well through two games is dominate inside, outrebounding opponents 86-71 while scoring 58% of its total points in the paint. Against a Fever team loaded with bucket-getters, and Caitlin Clark settling back into her role as the offensive engine, the Mystics will need to control the glass, capitalize off turnovers, and find more efficient looks from three.

Speaking of Clark, she’s also struggled heavily from beyond the arc to start the year. Through two games, Clark is shooting just 18.8% from three, but she’s still managed 20+ points in both contests. She’s flashed plenty of her 2024 Rookie of the Year form as a facilitator, throwing behind-the-back passes and posting seven and nine assists, respectively. Even with Clark still finding her rhythm from deep, Indiana has more than enough offensive firepower to stay competitive. Kelsey Mitchell has already dropped 53 points while shooting an impressive 51.5% from the field. While she didn’t record a single rebound or assist in the Fever’s last outing, the 30-year-old still poured in 23 points in just 27 minutes, proving how efficient of a scorer she can be even in limited time.

Aliyah Boston exploded for 23 points in Indiana’s opener against Dallas before regressing to just four points in Game 2 after fouling out in the fourth quarter. The offensive talent is clearly there for Indiana, but there are still real questions defensively. The Fever allowed 107 points to the Wings — who were shooting lights out in the opener — and opponents are shooting 54.5% from the field against Indiana through two games, the second-worst mark in the league. It’s still far too early in the season to fully diagnose either team, but this matchup feels much closer than the line suggests.

Mystics vs. Fever, Best Bet

The Mystics have exciting young talent with Iriafen and Citron leading the way early, but their struggles from beyond the arc still raise some question marks. Indiana simply has more proven and consistent scorers, and I believe the Fever pull out the win tonight.

Best Bet: IND -6.5 Spread Alternate (-154)