{"id":204033,"date":"2026-07-07T07:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T11:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=204033"},"modified":"2026-07-06T21:30:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T01:30:56","slug":"sky-vs-mercury-july-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/07\/sky-vs-mercury-july-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Sky vs Mercury: Prediction, Preview & Odds For July 7th"},"content":{"rendered":"

A little interconference WNBA<\/a> action on Tuesday evening as the Chicago Sky grapple with the Phoenix Mercury at Mortgage Matchup Center. Chicago enters this contest at 6-14 on the year, and they are off a 98-90 OT loss to Las Vegas on the road. Phoenix is not having a great season either, as they are at 8-13 so far, but they have now won 3 in a row after topping Seattle at home, 90-67. Phoenix has won the last 8 games in this series. Can Chicago break the string?<\/p>\n

Sky vs Mercury: Prediction, Preview & Odds For July 7th<\/h2>\n

Current Odds<\/h3>\n

Phoenix -3.5; Over\/Under 174.5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago Sky Preview<\/h3>\n

Chicago enters at 6\u201114 after a 98\u201190 overtime loss to Las Vegas<\/a>, a game where their young roster showed real fight despite the result. The Sky shot 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep, with Skylar Diggins<\/a> scoring 19 points and Kamilla Cardoso<\/a> adding 16 with 10 rebounds. Natasha Cloud<\/a> posted 15, while Azura Stevens<\/a> added 11. Chicago has dropped two straight and eight of its last 10, and they remain on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. To win here, Chicago must protect possessions and avoid the slow starts that have plagued recent games.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicago averages 86.6 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting, including 30.9 percent from deep. Their two\u2011point accuracy sits at 48.4 percent, and they generate 33.4 rebounds per game. Diggins leads the team at 14.2 points per game, while Cardoso adds 14.6 points and 8.7 rebounds with strong interior efficiency. Sydney Taylor<\/a> contributes 12.2 points, and Cloud adds 9.3 points with steady playmaking. Defensively, Chicago allows 90.0 points per game, and opponents shoot 44.0 percent. The Sky must tighten rotations and avoid giving Phoenix clean perimeter looks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s recent struggles stem from inconsistent defense and stretches of inefficient shooting. They allowed Las Vegas to shoot 51 percent and score 98, and their perimeter coverage broke down late. Their offense has shown flashes, but turnovers and foul trouble have created issues in tight games. Cardoso\u2019s interior presence remains a strength, and Diggins continues to stabilize the backcourt. Chicago must also rebound better, as they allowed 34 boards to Las Vegas. Their challenge here will be containing Phoenix\u2019s scoring runs and preventing early momentum swings. If they defend with discipline, they can stay competitive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicago has lost eight straight in this series, adding urgency to this matchup. The Sky must avoid letting Phoenix dictate tempo early, especially given the Mercury\u2019s recent scoring surge. Their path forward relies on cleaner possessions, improved spacing, and stronger defensive communication. Chicago must also avoid long scoring droughts, which have hurt them repeatedly. If they generate transition chances and maintain offensive rhythm, they can challenge Phoenix\u2019s momentum. Their margin for error is small, but competitive stretches give them a chance if they execute.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Phoenix Mercury Preview<\/h3>\n

Phoenix enters at 8\u201113 after a dominant 90\u201167 home win over Seattle, a game where their defense set the tone from the opening minutes. The Mercury held Seattle to 42 percent shooting and only eight made threes, while Kahleah Copper<\/a> exploded for 30 points. Alyssa Thomas<\/a> added nine points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, while Lexi Held<\/a> scored 17 with five threes. DeWanna Bonner<\/a> contributed six rebounds and steady defense. Phoenix has now won three straight and four of its last five, and they\u2019ve averaged 96.6 points during the streak. To win here, the Mercury must maintain pace and continue attacking early.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phoenix averages 84.3 points per game on 43.7 percent shooting, including 32.9 percent from deep. Their two\u2011point accuracy sits at 49.7 percent, and they generate 32.2 rebounds per game. Copper leads the team at 20.6 points per game, while Thomas adds 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds with elite playmaking. Bonner contributes 8.9 points and five rebounds, and Natasha Mack<\/a> adds 9.2 with strong interior efficiency, but she is questionable for this one. Defensively, Phoenix allows 85.9 points per game, and opponents shoot 46.0 percent. The Mercury must limit Chicago\u2019s drives and avoid giving up second\u2011chance points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phoenix\u2019s recent surge has come from improved spacing, stronger ball movement, and more consistent defensive pressure. Their win over Seattle showcased how effective they can be when they control tempo and force turnovers. Copper\u2019s scoring has anchored the offense, while Thomas continues to impact every possession with her versatility. Phoenix also defended the arc well, holding Seattle to 32 percent from deep. Their challenge here will be containing Chicago\u2019s interior strength and preventing long offensive rebounds. If they maintain structure, they can dictate flow throughout the game.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phoenix<\/a> has won eight straight in this series, giving them confidence entering this matchup. The Mercury must start fast and avoid letting Chicago settle into long half\u2011court possessions. Their offense has been explosive recently, but they must defend with discipline to avoid giving the Sky momentum. Phoenix\u2019s path forward relies on pace, spacing, and consistent ball movement. If they protect possessions and maintain defensive intensity, they can extend their winning streak. Their recent form provides a clear foundation if they execute.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Sky vs Mercury Prediction<\/h3>\n

Phoenix -3.5 makes sense because their confidence is peaking and their offensive rhythm has been far more reliable than Chicago\u2019s. The Mercury have stacked wins, built momentum, and shown they can control pace early. Chicago has competed in stretches, but their inconsistency makes them vulnerable against a team playing with this level of flow. Phoenix also carries the psychological edge with eight straight wins in the series, and that matters in tight moments. In a matchup where scoring runs will shape momentum, the Mercury hold the stronger profile and should cover.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Over 174.5 fits the way both teams have been trending. Phoenix has been explosive during their win streak, and their pace naturally pushes totals higher. Chicago\u2019s road defense has struggled, allowing 88.8 points per game, and their transition coverage often breaks down late. Phoenix home games have also leaned high, with opponents averaging 90.4 points. Both teams can generate quick scoring bursts, and neither has consistently slowed the tempo. With two offenses capable of long runs, the total aligns with expected rhythm and recent production.<\/span><\/p>\n

This matchup projects as a fast, offense\u2011driven game where momentum swings come quickly. Phoenix\u2019s confidence should set the tone, while Chicago\u2019s volatility adds scoring potential on both ends. The side and total complement each other: Mercury -3.5 based on form, matchup history, and offensive stability, and Over 174.5 tied to pace, defensive trends, and recent scoring output. It\u2019s a pairing that fits how these teams have played lately and how this matchup should unfold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final Predictions: Phoenix -3.5 & Over 174.5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Featured Image: Candice Ward-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A little interconference WNBA action on Tuesday evening as the Chicago Sky grapple with the Phoenix Mercury at Mortgage Matchup Center. Chicago enters this contest at 6-14 on the year, and they are off a 98-90 OT loss to Las Vegas on the road. Phoenix is not having a great season either, as they are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5785,"featured_media":204067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,49087,49709],"tags":[49660,2957,49659,4548,50072,4356,50271,1632,49630],"class_list":["post-204033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-basketball-betting","category-wnba","tag-alyssa-thomas","tag-chicago-sky","tag-dewanna-bonner","tag-kamilla-cardoso","tag-natasha-cloud","tag-phoenix-mercury","tag-skylar-diggins","tag-wnba","tag-wnba-betting"],"modified_by":"Benjamin Yu, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5785"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204033"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204069,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204033\/revisions\/204069"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=204033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=204033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}