Quinn Allen
- Date & Location: Thursday, August 18th at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut
- Time: 8 PM ET
- Who: Dallas Wings vs Connecticut Sun Game 1
With the WNBA betting regular season all done, the first round of the WNBA Playoffs continues on Thursday, August 18th as the No. 3 seed Dallas Wings visit the No. 2 seed Connecticut Sun for Game 1 of their best of three series. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 PM ET at Mohegan Sun Arena. These cross-conference foes met three times in 2022, with Dallas actually going 2-1. However, Dallas won their most recent matchup against the Sun on July 5th by a score of 82-71. Keep reading for the Wings vs Sun picks.
Before we get into the preview and prediction for the opening contest, make sure to check out our guide on how to bet on sports. You can also find the best betting apps here.
Wings vs Sun Odds
 | Spread | Odds | Total |
| Dallas Wings | +9 (-110) | +420 | Ov 163.5 (-110) |
| Connecticut Sun | -9 (-110) | -525 | Un 163.5 (-110) |
Wings vs Sun Game 1 Betting Preview
As previously mentioned, Dallas finished in third place in the Western Conference with an 18-18 record and ended the campaign on a high note, going 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Wings made a statement in their finale on Sunday too, blowing out the Los Angeles Sparks, 116-88 thanks to a ridiculous 41-point second quarter. Marina Mabrey and Teaira McCowan both erupted for 20+ points to lead the charge. In fact, they did all the damage without their best player, Arike Ogunbowale, who is unfortunately done for the first round of the postseason at the minimum with an injury. She leads Dallas with 19.7 points per game. That means the likes of Mabrey (13.3 PPG), Allisha Gray (13.3 PPG), and Satou Sabally (11.3 PPG), among others, will need to step up in a big way to make up for the loss of Ogunbowale, who is such a crucial part of this team’s success. She’s also the Wings’ best playmaker, dishing out 3.7 dimes per night. Needless to say, it’s a big loss, especially for Wings vs Sun picks for Game 1.
Dallas finished fourth in the WNBA in points per game in 22′ with 82.9 and also ranked fourth in offensive rating. They shoot 43.5% from the field (8th) and 34.3% from long range (8th). The Wings really don’t stand out in any specific area but they have an intriguing group of talent that can score the rock. No Ogunbowale is a major blow however and it will be interesting to see how things go without her. After all, Connecticut is one of the best teams in the league. This is not going to be an easy series.
The Sun had the third-best record in the WNBA at 25-11, finishing just behind the defending champion Sky for top spot. They also come into the postseason red-hot, winners of three straight and dropping just two games in their previous 10. During this current unbeaten run, Connecticut has outscored their opponents by a total of 56 points, destroying the Sparks in back-to-back contests before taking care of the Lynx on the final day of the season last weekend. This is a very well-rounded squad with a total of five players averaging double-digits in points, led by Jonquel Jones. The 28-year-old Bahamas native is dropping 14.6 points per game to go along with 8.6 rebounds. She’s also shooting 37% from deep. Frontcourt partner Brionna Jones is a legitimate offensive threat as well, posting averages of 13.8 points, 5.1 boards, and 1.2 assists off the bench. DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, and Courtney Williams are ones to keep an eye out for, too.
Connecticut shoots the ball at an efficient 46% from the field, which is second in the league. They’re also a very good three-point shooting team while ranking second in both offensive and defensive rating. Arguably the area where the Sun thrives the most though is on the glass, sitting top dog in rebounds and offensive boards. There is a lot of talent on both ends of the floor for Connecticut and player for player, they’re definitely better than Dallas. It simply comes down to proving that in the playoffs, which is a whole different beast than the regular season. Can they get it done in the Wings vs Sun picks? We shall see on Thursday.
Wings vs Sun Picks
The absence of Ogunbowale is going to be felt. There is no other way to put it. Connecticut is just too strong in every single aspect and without the Wings’ go-to scorer, it will be hard for them to grab a win in this series. I’m definitely taking the Sun in Game 1 and I do believe they will cover the 9-point spread at home.
Pick: Sun -9 (-110)
