Washington Mystics vs Seattle Storm

Both of these teams will have played another game between Thursday and Sunday, but in their season openers, the Mystics played a competitive game against the Liberty, while the Storm lost outright as 7.5-point favorites to the Lynx. I was lower on the Storm than the market coming into the season, but not lose-to-Minnesota-as-7-point-favorites low, so I’m not sure what exactly to make of them so far, as they also struggled to find rhythm in the preseason, losing outright to the Sparks – who I have power rated dead last in the W. TSI projects Seattle -6 with a total of 157.5. I think, depending on how these teams perform in Friday’s games, that Seattle will open as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of around 160.

Two winless teams will face off on Sunday afternoon as the Seattle Storm visit the Washington Mystics. This will be Seattle's second opponent on a three-game road trip and the first leg of a back-to-back before visiting the Big Apple to take on the undefeated New York Liberty.

Thus, Seattle almost has to win this game, or it could be facing a 0-3 start.

The injury report could be a factor in this contest as Washinton will be without its starting center, Shakira Austin (load management hip). Starting point guard Brittney Sykes could also miss the game, considering that she's doubtful with an ankle sprain.

Despite being winless on the year, Washington covered the spread in both games against two quality opponents in Connecticut and New York.

I've gotten a good look at this Seattle team and even previewed its second game of the season against the Minnesota Lynx. One thing I highlighted heading into the matchup was that Seattle looks worse from the perimeter following the departures of Kia Nurse (Sparks) and Ivana Dojkic (Liberty).

Nurse shot 35% from beyond the arc, with Dojkic shooting 41.8%.

Although Skylar Diggins-Smith and Victoria Vivians replaced the two outgoing players, neither arrival shot 30% or better on 3-point attempts in the previous campaign.

My criticism of the Storm proved sound, as the team shot just 5-of-20 (25%) from beyond the arc against the Lynx.

Seattle's Jewell Loyd is off to a slow start by her standards, averaging 16 points through two games after leading the league in scoring last year with 24.7 per game.

Nneka Ogwumike is currently the team's leading scorer (22.0 PPG), but she'll likely need more help from her teammates.

Seattle must also be mindful not to wear out the 13-year veteran.

Ogwumike is questionable (ankle) on the injury report following the double-overtime loss against Minnesota.

However, despite her "questionable" status, I'd lean more toward Ogwumike playing on Sunday.

Washington is one team I strongly considered as a candidate in the win totals futures market. Sportsbooks hung a win total of 11.5, which I felt was a bit short, even for a team missing its best player, Elena Delle Donne.

The seven-time All-Star is taking a break from basketball after opting not to sign a one-year super max deal offered by the Mystics.

However, I still liked the nucleus of this Washington team, with Austin now as the centerpiece. At 6-feet, 5-inches, Austin can affect the game on both ends of the court, and she's continued to show progress in her third year in the league.

Defensively, Austin's mobility and ability to protect the paint helped give the Mystics a chance against two of the better teams in the league to start the season.

The Ole Miss product had a +7 plus-minus rating in the 85-80 loss to the Liberty.

Washington played its first two games with two centers as Stefanie Dolson joined Austin in the starting lineup.

Thus, it'll be interesting to see if the team opts for a smaller starting lineup, perhaps with Shatori Walker-Kimbrough as a third guard, or whether it chooses to go with another frontcourt player in Myisha Hines-Allen or Aaliyah Edwards.

Either way, there are too many moving parts for my liking, especially if the Mystics are without a second player since Sykes is doubtful for the game.