Mystics vs. Liberty: WNBA Playoffs Showdown
Date: 2023-09-16 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: SPORTS BETTING
In a thrilling season finale, the Washington Mystics clinched victory against the New York Liberty, setting the stage for their playoff clash. The Mystics now face off against the Liberty in Game 1 of the series at Barclays Center.
The Liberty, consistently ranking as the second-best team in the WNBA, squares off against the Mystics, who entered the season with the third-best championship odds. Can Washington make a strong statement in the opening game?
Let's take a look at some key statistics and insights for each team, along with predictions from our Action Network contributors.
Washington Mystics:
The Mystics had a mixed season, finishing 19-21 against the spread. However, they finished strong by covering in six of their last 10 games. On the road, their performance was lackluster, with a 7-13 ATS record, second-worst only to the Phoenix Mercury.
Despite their struggles, the Mystics displayed resilience against formidable opponents late in the season. They covered the spread in four consecutive games as underdogs against teams with .500 or above records, even securing two outright victories.
New York Liberty:
The Liberty had an impressive overall season, but they were not always a safe bet as heavy favorites. They finished 20-21 against the spread and 18-19 ATS when favored.
As double-digit home favorites, the Liberty boasted an 8-4 straight-up record this season. However, it's worth noting that they've experienced more outright losses as double-digit home favorites this season than any other team in our Bet Labs database dating back to 2005.
Offensively, the Liberty have been consistently strong, with a 23-18 over/under record, including a 12-7 mark as home favorites.
Mystics-Liberty Pick:
For a detailed analysis of this matchup, tune in to the latest episode of the Buckets podcast, where Matt Moore and Dano Mataya share their insights and betting strategies for the series and Game 1.
Mataya's Analysis for Game 1: The Mystics bring a wealth of experience to the court, and players like Brittney Sykes have been outstanding, contributing defensively and scoring crucial points. Despite the Mystics' strong defense and tendency to play unders this season, these games tend to be nail-biters. With Elena Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, and Brittney Sykes in the lineup, it's hard to imagine the Liberty pulling away by more than three possessions.
Moore's Analysis for Game 1: In Game 1 (and potentially Game 3), I project the spread at 7.6, indicating some value on the Mystics at +9.5. I'm taking the Mystics in Game 1 and the points. Given the Liberty's popularity, it wouldn't be surprising if the spread moved to +10.
Pick: Mystics +9.5
Bryan Fonseca's Player Prop: Sabrina Ionescu has been a force to be reckoned with, particularly against the Mystics. Ionescu's past performances, including a 20-point game to close out the season and a 31-point outburst on June 25, suggest she could surpass her points prop of 17.5. Keep an eye on her other prop bets leading up to tip-off for potential value.
The Liberty, consistently ranking as the second-best team in the WNBA, squares off against the Mystics, who entered the season with the third-best championship odds. Can Washington make a strong statement in the opening game?
Let's take a look at some key statistics and insights for each team, along with predictions from our Action Network contributors.
Washington Mystics:
The Mystics had a mixed season, finishing 19-21 against the spread. However, they finished strong by covering in six of their last 10 games. On the road, their performance was lackluster, with a 7-13 ATS record, second-worst only to the Phoenix Mercury.
Despite their struggles, the Mystics displayed resilience against formidable opponents late in the season. They covered the spread in four consecutive games as underdogs against teams with .500 or above records, even securing two outright victories.
New York Liberty:
The Liberty had an impressive overall season, but they were not always a safe bet as heavy favorites. They finished 20-21 against the spread and 18-19 ATS when favored.
As double-digit home favorites, the Liberty boasted an 8-4 straight-up record this season. However, it's worth noting that they've experienced more outright losses as double-digit home favorites this season than any other team in our Bet Labs database dating back to 2005.
Offensively, the Liberty have been consistently strong, with a 23-18 over/under record, including a 12-7 mark as home favorites.
Mystics-Liberty Pick:
For a detailed analysis of this matchup, tune in to the latest episode of the Buckets podcast, where Matt Moore and Dano Mataya share their insights and betting strategies for the series and Game 1.
Mataya's Analysis for Game 1: The Mystics bring a wealth of experience to the court, and players like Brittney Sykes have been outstanding, contributing defensively and scoring crucial points. Despite the Mystics' strong defense and tendency to play unders this season, these games tend to be nail-biters. With Elena Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, and Brittney Sykes in the lineup, it's hard to imagine the Liberty pulling away by more than three possessions.
Moore's Analysis for Game 1: In Game 1 (and potentially Game 3), I project the spread at 7.6, indicating some value on the Mystics at +9.5. I'm taking the Mystics in Game 1 and the points. Given the Liberty's popularity, it wouldn't be surprising if the spread moved to +10.
Pick: Mystics +9.5
Bryan Fonseca's Player Prop: Sabrina Ionescu has been a force to be reckoned with, particularly against the Mystics. Ionescu's past performances, including a 20-point game to close out the season and a 31-point outburst on June 25, suggest she could surpass her points prop of 17.5. Keep an eye on her other prop bets leading up to tip-off for potential value.
