Storm vs. Dream Odds
| Storm Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -114 | 158.5 -110o / -110u | -290 |
| Dream Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -106 | 158.5 -110o / -110u | +225 |
On Friday night, the Seattle Storm will take the long, diagonal trip from the northwest to the southeast of the States to face the Atlanta Dream, an injury-riddled team that has struggled to hang on to ninth place in the W during the 2024 campaign.
Despite the injury bug, Atlanta is three games away from a playoff spot, so every game between now and the end of the regular season matters for the Dream.
Meanwhile, the lightning-quick Storm had strung together eight wins in a ten-game stretch leading up to the break in the WNBA season.
Can the Dream get back on track now that Rhyne Howard has recovered from an ankle injury she suffered in late June? Or will Atlanta’s horrible 3-point shooting and inefficient offense continue to keep it from being competitive?
Let’s break down this Storm vs. Dream matchup, including our WNBA game predictions below!
Seattle Storm: A Downpour of Buckets
The speedy Storm have one of the most effective backcourts, featuring last season’s leading scorer Jewell Loyd (24.7 PPG in 2023) and veteran point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (6.5 APG), one of the best passers in the W.
Additionally, Seattle has a physical frontcourt with 6-foot-2 forward Nneka Ogwumike and 6-foot-4 center Ezi Magbegor. The Storm rank first in blocks per game, second in rebounds per game, and second in defensive rating, exemplifying their interior dominance.
Like Atlanta, 3-point shooting consistency has been an Achilles heel for an otherwise talented offensive unit. The Storm rely on a frenetic pace and intense defense to maximize their abilities on the court.
Regardless, Seattle remains one of the highest-scoring teams (second in PPG). Ogwumike and Magbegor form an exceptional interior defensive force and shoot better than 50% from the field on the other end of the floor.
The Storm come into this game having won eight of their past 10 games by an average of nearly 12 points; they beat this Dream squad by 11 points at home despite shooting an abysmal 5-for-28 from 3-point land. Imagine what might happen if they knock down those shots or opt for better ones.
Atlanta Dream: Can Howard Keep the Dream Alive?
The Dream dropped eight consecutive games before the WNBA season break, mainly due to Howard’s ankle injury. Simply put, this month off was a blessing for Howard and the Atlanta organization.
Since Howard’s injury, the Dream’s offense fell off a cliff, ranking last in offensive rating and points per game. Further, the Dream lost nine of their 10 games in that stretch without her while shooting a putrid 41% from the field and 25% from behind the arc.
While her return is bound to alleviate the pressure from veteran center Tina Charles and guard Allisha Gray, a substantial void remains: playmaking for others.
That was the area point guard Jordin Canada (6.0 APG in 2023), who finished second in Most Improved Player voting, was supposed to fill when she was signed in the offseason; however, injuries have derailed her 2024 season.
Until Canada can return to the lineup, the Dream will be inconsistent. Canada also landed first-team All-Defensive honors last year, so it isn’t just the offensive end of the floor that has been negatively affected by her absence, either.
Storm vs. Dream: Live By the 3, Die By the 3
Betting Pick & Prediction
Atlanta’s most significant concern in this game is its inability to knock down 3-pointers at an even remotely competitive rate. The Dream have shot an inexplicably poor 25.7% from deep since late June, making it nearly impossible to keep up with this fast-paced Seattle team that ranks third in points per game, second in pace, and second in defensive rating.
I’ll back the Storm to -7.5.
