Prediction: Seattle Storm VS New York Liberty 2025-07-06
Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty: A Tale of Two Titans (With a Side of Drama)
July 6, 2025 | Barclays Center | 5:00 PM ET
The Setup:
The Seattle Storm (7-3 ATS) and New York Liberty (5-5 ATS) clash in a battle of WNBA parity. Both teams are statistically identical—82.4 vs. 87.6 PPG, 79.8 PPG allowed—but the Liberty’s home-court advantage and the Storm’s recent 10-point win over them on June 22 add spice. The Storm’s Skylar Diggins-Smith (18.5 PPG, 5.9 APG) faces off against the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart (20.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG), while New York’s Sabrina Ionescu (3PT specialist) looks to exploit Seattle’s perimeter defense.
Key Injuries/Updates:
- New York’s Jonquel Jones (ankle) remains out, a massive blow to their frontcourt. Natasha Cloud has stepped up (19.0 PPG over last 3 games), but the Liberty’s interior defense is now paper-thin.
- Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike (7.8 RPG) is a projected underdog against the Liberty’s Leonie Fiebich (rebound specialist).
- The Liberty’s defense has slipped to 5th in the league in points allowed, a red flag against a Storm offense that thrives on efficiency.
Odds Breakdown:
- H2H: Liberty -150 (60% implied), Storm +250 (40% implied).
- Spread: Liberty -5.5 (-110), Storm +5.5 (-110).
- Total: 168.5 (Even money).
The Math:
Using the underdog win rate (32%) for WNBA games and the implied probability from odds, let’s calculate expected value (EV):
- Liberty Implied Probability: 1 / 1.44 ≈ 69.4%
- Actual chance? With Jones out and the Storm’s recent dominance, 60% feels generous.
- EV = (0.6 * 0.44) - (0.4 * 1) = -0.16 → Negative.
- Storm Implied Probability: 1 / 2.75 ≈ 36.4%
- Actual chance? Their 10-point win over the Liberty and the Liberty’s porous defense suggest ~40%.
- EV = (0.4 * 1.75) - (0.6 * 1) = +0.10 → Positive.
- Spread: The -5.5 line assumes the Liberty will win by 5.5. Given Jones’ absence and the Storm’s 10-point win, Storm +5.5 has value if they cover 50% of the time.
- EV = (0.5 * 1.91) - (0.5 * 1) = +0.455 → Strong positive.
The Verdict:
While the Liberty are slight favorites, their injuries and recent struggles make them a shaky bet. The Storm (+250) are undervalued, with a 40% chance of winning (vs. 36.4% implied). Even if they lose, their spread (+5.5) offers better EV, given their ability to compete with top teams.
Best Bet: Seattle Storm +5.5 (-110)
- Why? The Storm’s recent 10-point win over the Liberty, combined with New York’s defensive woes and missing Jones, creates a perfect storm (pun intended) for a cover. The spread reflects a 5.5-point cushion, but the Storm’s efficiency and the Liberty’s vulnerabilities suggest they’ll keep this game closer than the line.
Final Thought:
The Liberty’s home crowd and Cloud’s heroics can’t mask their injuries. The Storm, with their "we’re a really good team when we show up" mantra, are primed to pull off the upset or at least keep the spread alive. Bet accordingly—because even in Brooklyn, the Storm have a plan.
EV: +0.455 (Spread) | Underdog Win Rate Edge: +8% 🏀🔥
Created: July 6, 2025, 1:52 p.m. GMT