**Odds, Key Players, and Top Betting Picks for the Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury Showdown**
- Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury: Prediction, Odds, and Key Players to Watch - Sunday,
Chicago Sky Face Phoenix Mercury in Second Night of Back-to-Back After Victory Over Sparks
Fresh off a victory against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Chicago Sky hit the road on Sunday to face the Phoenix Mercury in the second game of a back-to-back series. These two teams recently squared off in Chicago on Thursday, where the Mercury secured a dominant 20-point victory. As a result, Phoenix enters this game as a strong favorite on their home court.
For the Sky, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso have been formidable forces in the paint, but can they lead their team to a crucial win to stay competitive in the race for the No. 7 seed?
Let's take a closer look at the odds, key players to watch, and my top betting pick for this matchup.
### Sky vs. Mercury Odds, Spread, and Total
*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.*
- **Spread:**
- Sky +7.5 (-108)
- Mercury -7.5 (-112)
- **Moneyline:**
- Sky: +310
- Mercury: -395
- **Total:**
- 166 (Over -108/Under -112)
### Sky vs. Mercury Game Details
- **Date:** Sunday, Aug. 18
- **Time:** 9:00 p.m. EST
- **Venue:** Footprint Center
- **How to Watch:** Mercury Live, WNBA League Pass
- **Sky Record:** 11-15
- **Mercury Record:** 14-13
### Sky vs. Mercury Injury Reports
- **Sky:**
- Elizabeth Williams – Out
- **Mercury:**
- Rebecca Allen – Out
- Charisma Osborne – Out
### Key Players to Watch
**Chicago Sky:**
*Kamilla Cardoso* - The rookie had a standout performance on Saturday night, contributing 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds while shooting 6-for-9 from the field in the win over the Sparks. With Marina Mabrey no longer in the lineup, the Sky will increasingly rely on Cardoso and Angel Reese to provide offensive firepower for the remainder of the season.
**Phoenix Mercury:**
*Kahleah Copper* - One of the league’s top scorers, Copper has been on a tear since the Olympic break, dropping 29 points against the Sky in their recent win and 32 points against the Indiana Fever. She's currently averaging 23.7 points per game while shooting an impressive 45.7 percent from the field.
### Sky vs. Mercury Prediction and Betting Pick
Earlier today, I highlighted my favorite bet for this game in my WNBA Best Bets, which focuses on a player prop for Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham:
While betting the UNDER on a player prop isn't always popular, there’s a compelling case to do so with Sophie Cunningham in this matchup against the Sky.
Cunningham’s role has fluctuated this season, often starting when Rebecca Allen is unavailable. In her first two games following the Olympic break, Cunningham posted just eight and six points, respectively, on only six shot attempts in each game. Since June 22, she has only one game with double-digit shot attempts and has scored over eight points in just two of her last 12 outings, despite starting in five of those games.
Cunningham is averaging 8.0 points per game this season, but over her last 12 games, her scoring has dipped to 7.6 points per game on 5.8 shot attempts per night. With the Mercury's star trio of Kahleah Copper, Brittney Griner, and Diana Taurasi all healthy, it’s unlikely Cunningham will see enough shot volume to have a big night unless she delivers an unusually efficient shooting performance.
Given these factors, I'll take the UNDER on Cunningham’s point total in this matchup.
