Tipping off across tonight’s four-game WNBA slate, the Chicago Sky will take on the Golden State Valkyries. This will mark the second matchup of the season for the Sky and third for the Valkyries, with neither side losing a game yet. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET.

The Valkyries enter tonight as 5.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Sky are +205 underdogs, with the game total set at 166.5 points.

Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Sky at Valkyries matchup.

Sky at Valkyries Preview

The Chicago Sky tied for a league-worst 10-34 overall record last season, marking their worst win percentage since their inaugural season in 2006. Chicago hit the reset button by trading Angel Reese in the offseason, with future draft picks as the return. It also released last year’s 11th overall pick, Hailey Van Lith. However, it has gotten off to a strong start to the season with a 98-83 victory over the Portland Fire in its season-opener to comfortably cover the 5.5-point spread.

There has been plenty of roster turnover coming into the season. Chicago added Skylar Diggins, DiJonai Carrington and Natasha Cloud. The Sky were without Cloud in the season-opener, but the scrappy guard has been upgraded to questionable due to illness for tonight. Carrington will miss for a left foot issue, while Azura Stevens, Courtney Vandersloot and Maddy Westbeld also remain out. 

It was an extremely encouraging start to the season for the Sky. They held full control of the matchup in Portland’s debut game, leading for 88% of the matchup and out-rebounding the Fire 46-24. Kamilla Cardoso opened the season with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Skylar Diggins added 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Rickea Jackson added 19 points of her own, while Jacy Sheldon and Gabriela Jaquez also scored in double figures.

The Golden State Valkyries finished their inaugural season with a 23-21 record. They were eliminated by the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the opening round of the playoffs, but there were plenty of positives to build off of. Golden State is off to a 2-0 start to the season, defeating the Seattle Storm 91-80 and the Phoenix Mercury 95-79. The Valkyries covered the spread in both matchups.

Following their postseason appearance in their first season, the Valkyries have largely kept their core intact. They signed All-Star forward Gabby Williams in free agency, along with Kiah Stokes. The Valkyries launched more three-pointers than any team in the WNBA last season, but they ranked 11th in three-point percentage. There has been an improvement in their efficiency to start this year, although the small sample size is a clear factor. Golden State remains the league-leader in perimeter volume, but it is currently shooting 40% from deep, which is the second-best rate in the WNBA.

Through the opening two games, the growth of Janelle Salaun has been among the biggest positives. She dropped 20 points off the bench in both games thus far and currently leads the team in scoring. Veronica Burton is posting averages of 14.5 points and 9.0 assists, while Gabby Williams adds 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds and Kayla Thornton is the lone other player to be averaging in double figures with 16.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Sky at Valkyries Pick, Best Bet

The Valkyries are now the model for teams building successful launching points in the WNBA and getting immediate results. There is plenty to like about the way the organization is trending and its outlook this season, as well as moving forward. But I am a bit skeptical of this improved three-point efficiency being here to stay. Progress in Salaun is notable regardless, but her current 56.3% three-point percentage is not sustainable. Thornton is currently shooting 42.9% from deep, but she is a career 32.1% three-pointer shooter, while Williams is knocking down 35.7% of her three-point looks while being a 27.8% career long-range shooter.

The saying goes that when you live by the three, you die by the three. Chicago limited the Portland Fire to 9-for-29 from beyond the three-point arc in its season-opener, and its interior presence will be a major factor in tonight’s game. Expect Kamilla Cardoso to largely have her way on the inside and for this to be a major difference in this game.

The Valkyries were a terrific home team last year, going 14-8 when playing at the Chase Center. But this is not a matchup I like for their style of basketball, and there have been some extremely encouraging signs from the Sky out of the gate this year. My lean is toward Chicago pulling off the outright upset to remain undefeated, but I am backing the +5.5-point spread for some added insurance. Expect this to be a matchup that comes down to the wire, and for this to be an interesting measuring stick matchup for both sides. Count on a strong effort from this Chicago team and for this to be more of a thrilling matchup than either side has played to this point.

Best Bet: Chicago Sky +5.5 (-108)