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LAS vs CHI Dream11: The WNBA All-Star starters have been announced and some common figures like Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Sue Bird, and Sylvia Fowles have been voted to start. But there have been some first-timers too, such as Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. Then you have other regular ones in Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker. Ogwumike’s Los Angeles Sparks and Parker’s Chicago Sky will clash here.
To be honest, the Sparks have had a below-par season so far and the nine losses and six wins signify that. They snapped a three-game losing streak in the last game, beating the Mystics 84:82 as Nneka Ogwumike clipped home 21 points. On the other hand, the Sky has been a superb team and have begun their title defense ina rousing fashion. The Sky completed a milestone in the last game, after erasing a 28-point deficit and won with a scoreline of 104:95 as Courtney Vandersloot slipped in 25 points and 8 assists. Can the Sparks fend off such a difficult squad?
Home: Los Angeles Sparks
Visitors: Chicago Sky
Match Timing: 24 June, @ 08:00 AM (+05:30 UTC)
Venue: Crpyto.com Arena
Sparks’ three-point woes and struggling defense
The Sparks have been one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league and their defense has also not made up for them. The trouble with the Sparks is that they lack guards who can knock down outside shoots and that can make the offense stagnant. Katie Lou-Samuelson has been the only dependable shooter for the Sparks so afr.
Brittney Sykes have been impressive but her role is still muddy. The return of Tolliver can fix the long-range woes and she can also act as a playmaker. Liz Cambage has been a tad underwhelming, playing frustrated and loose at times. And without a surprise, Nneka Ogwumike continues to be the staple on the offensive end as an isolation scorer.
Sky’s depth is scary
To think that a team that won the title season is even deeper is just too much. There are too many isolation threats, playmakers, rebounders, and defenders in this squad that has both experience and explosion. Hauling in Emma Messeman has only made the Forward position deeper as Candace Parker has the perfect pairing as Emma knows when to take shots and when to pass it out as well as anyone.
Then of course, with Courtney Vandersloot running the show, the offense will be elite while Kahleah Copper continues to be a big factor on both ends. Allie Quigley can help the shooting matters whereas whereas the bench with Gardner and Stevens is the icing on the cake. The Sky’s depth is just downright scary and they are primed for a deep Playoffs run.
Performance Predictions
Highest scorer: Nneka Ogwumike: 23
Highest rebounder: Candace Parker: 11
Top assists maker: Courtney Vandersloot: 8
Score Prediction: Sky: 85 Sparks: 77
Los Angels Sparks Teams News:
Sparks Expected Starting Five
Isolation Forward: PF: Nneka Ogwumike
Inside Presence: C: Liz Cambage
Stretch-Three: SF: Karlie Lou-Samuelson
Off-the-Ball Shooter: SG: Kristi Tolliver
Two-Way Guard: PG: Jordan Canada
BENCH: Chiney Ogwumike, Chennedy Carter, Brittney Sykes, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Lexie Brown.
Chicago Sky News
Sky Expected Starting Five
All-Around Forward: F: Candace Parker
All-Around Forward: F: Emma Messeman
Isolation two-way Guard: SG: Kahleah Copper
Leading Playmaker: PG: Courtney Vandersloot
Sharpshooting Guard: SG: Allie Quigley
BENCH: Azura Stevens, Dana Evans, Rebekah Gardner, Ruthy Hebard, Li Yueru, Jullie Allemand
Nneka Ogwumike(LAS)
Points: 21
Rebounds: 06
Assists: 02
Steals: 03
Blocks: 01
Forward Ogwumike continues to be an All-Star presence who can also be effective as a rebounder and defender. I believe she will be in 18-23 points, 6-10 rebounds, and 1-2 steals range. She can be selected as a Star/Pro Player in the Dream 11 WNBA Prediction scenario.
Expected Fantasy Points Range: 30-42
Emma Messeman(CHI)
Points: 17
Rebounds: 06
Assists: 06
Blocks: 02
Forward Emma has been a huge factor and she has become comfortable with the Sky’s system on both ends really quickly. I believe she will be in 13-19 points, 6-8 rebounds, and 4-7 assists range.
Expected Fantasy Points Range: 28-39
Liz Cambage(LAS)
Points: 09
Rebounds: 06
Assists: 03
Blocks: 01
Steals: 01
Center Cambage has been off her game recently and her inability to pace up the game has hurt the Sparks a bit to be honest. I believe she will be in 9-14 points, 6-11 rebounds, and 1-2 blocks range.
Expected Fantasy Points Range: 20-31
Courtney Vandersloot (CHI)
Points: 25
Rebounds: 03
Assists: 08
Vandersloot is one of the passers to play basketball whereas she also fights on the defensive end while also giving more than handy scoring. I believe she will be in 12-17 points and 6-9 assists range.
Expected Fantasy Points Range: 24-34
Brittney Sykes(LAS)
Points: 07
Rebounds: 02
Assists: 03
Guard Brittney has been a big factor on both ends and has done better as a bench player than a starter. I believe she will be in 10-15 points, 4-6 rebounds, 2-4 assists, and 1-3 steals range.
Expected Fantasy Points Range: 17-27
Candace Parker(CHI)
Points: 17
Rebounds: 10
Assists: 04
Steals: 02
Forward Parker is just too good! She has only become more calculative in the twilight years and has been a big two-way presence. I believe she will be in 16-22 points, 6-11 rebounds, and 3-6 assists range.
Expected Fantasy Points Range: 30-42
(Recommended)
PG: K Tolliver
SG: A Quigley
SF: K Lou-Samuelson, E Messeman, K Copper
PF: N Ogwumike(PP), C Parker(SP)
C: A Stevens
(Alternate)
PG: K Tolliver, C Vandersloot(PP)
SG: A Quigley
SF: K Lou-Samuelson, E Messeman
PF: N Ogwumike(SP)
C: L Cambage, A Stevens
Can the Sparks and Nneka Ogwumike take care of business against the much-loaded Sky? You can catch this game on the WNBA League Pass where all the WNBA action can be seen. You can tab the highlights of the game on the official YouTube of the WNBA. To learn the scores, news, and stats, visit the official website of the WNBA.