Mystics Seek End to Futility as Fever Visit
Indiana Favored (-135 ML) in Fever vs Mystics WNBA Odds
The Washington Mystics have already set a new franchise record for futility with a 0-10 start. Soon, they may hit league records, too.
Still seeking their first victory of the season, the Mystics host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at Capital One Arena on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET).
- Indiana is a 2.5-point favorite and -135 on the moneyline, with Indiana +114 to win outright. Meanwhile, the projected total is 162.5.
Will Washington finally get in the win column? Read on as we break down both teams and assess the Fever vs Mystics WNBA odds in our game preview.
🏀 Fever vs Mystics 🏀
Day/Time:
Location: Capital One Arena; Washington, D.C.
Streaming: ION
Fever vs Mystics Betting Trends
The Indiana Fever are 5-6 against the spread, including 3-3 away from home. The Fever have been far more profitable for Over/Under bettors, hitting the Over in seven of their 11 games.
The Washington Mystics, meanwhile, are 4-5-1 ATS, including 1-3 at home. As for the Over/Under, Washington is 4-6.
That’s important to remember when assessing the Fever vs Mystics WNBA odds.
Catching the Fever
Indiana is off to a slower-than-expected start with rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. The Fever are just 2-9, losers of four of their last five. They have been outscored by an average of 13.1 points, most in the WNBA.
It’s not what many expected when Clark arrived. The Fever were projected for 21.5 wins and had the fifth-shortest WNBA champion odds of any team at +2500.
- Clark, meanwhile, was an overwhelming -700 favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
Not much has gone as planned.
The Fever have struggled, and Clark’s frustration has been apparent. The No. 1 overall pick, who is coming off a historic season at Iowa that saw her average 31.6 points and set the NCAA’s all-time scoring record, is dealing with some rookie growing pains.
Clark leads all rookies in scoring (15.6 PPG) and made 3-pointers (2.5). However, she’s also committed the league’s most turnovers, 5.4 per game.
Clark played only 29 minutes in Sunday’s 104-68 loss to New York before leaving with an ear injury. She finished with only three points on 1 of 10 shooting, the lowest field goal rate in a game during both her WNBA and college careers.
Adding to Indiana’s woes, Aliyah Boston tweaked her ankle. The reigning Rookie of the Year walked back gingerly to the locker room and didn’t return.
Indiana was playing its 11th game in 20 days, a physically and emotionally taxing stretch that included two back-to-backs.
Only Way to Go is Up
It keeps getting worse for Washington. The Mystics dropped to 0-10 Thursday in a 79-71 loss to Chicago, tied for the fourth-longest losing streak to begin a season.
The Mystics, 3-point underdogs, failed to cover for the fourth time in their last five games and fell to 4-5-1 ATS. Be sure to keep that in mind when assessing the Fever vs Mystics WNBA odds.
Aaliyah Edwards was Washington’s top performer, recording season-highs with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks. The rookie got extended work in the frontcourt with Shakira Austin (11.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG) sidelined with a hip injury.
The Mystics also remain without Elena Delle Donne. The two-time MVP and seven-time All-Star, who’s taking an indefinite leave from basketball, has played only 51 games the past three seasons because of back issues.
Delle Donne also sat out the 2020 season in Florida because of the Florida bubble because of COVID-19 concerns. Set to turn 35 in September, she’s possibly played her last game with Washington.
Lacking the star power needed to compete night in, night out, the Mystics are approaching a new level of futility. They’ve been outscored by an average of 10.0 points and rank last in scoring (72.2) and rebounding (31.6) and second-to-last in turnover rate (16.6).
Projected for only 11.6 wins, second-fewest in the WNBA to Los Angeles (9.5) they have struggled to match even the lowest expectations.
Handicapping the Game
The Mystics were already thin on depth because of injuries to Austin and Brittney Sykes (8.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.5 APG). Now they must face Indiana on a back-to-back.
Though Clark left her last game early, there doesn’t seem to be much concern about her status. Both she and Boston are listed as day-to-day on the WNBA injury report, with expectations that they’ll play Friday.
That could spell trouble for the Mystics, who simply have been overmatched. Bettors have little reason to trust them.
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