Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty Prediction & Best Bet

After six seasons and two championships with the Seattle Storm, WNBA star Breanna Stewart made a big move to the Big Apple in the offseason, signing with the New York Liberty.

In May, Stewart made her return to Seattle and led the Liberty to an 86-78 win over the Storm, scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds in her first matchup with her former team.

Today, the two teams face off again, this time in New York, as the Liberty (12-4, 6-2 home) welcome the Storm (4-13, 2-4 away) to Barclays Center.

Will Stewart inflict more misery on struggling Seattle? Read on for our Storm vs Liberty prediction and picks, but first, let’s take a look at the odds for the only matchup on today’s WNBA schedule.

Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 9:30 am ET.

Spread

• Seattle Storm +15.5 (-110)
• New York Liberty -15.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 167.5 (-110)
• Under 167.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Seattle Storm +1200
• New York Liberty -3300

Will Stewart and Loyd Ball Out in Brooklyn?

Stewart and Jewell Loyd, along with the now-retired Sue Bird, were cornerstones of the Storm squad that won WNBA titles in 2018 and 2020.

With Stewart now in New York, Loyd is the star scorer for a team in transition, and the two former teammates enter today’s game first and second in the WNBA in scoring.

Prior to this season, Loyd’s best season was in 2021, when she averaged 17.9 points per game. This season, she is averaging 25.6 points per game. Increased volume is a big reason why, but she is also shooting 40.9% from three, which would be another career high.

Those points haven’t translated into much success for the Storm, who have lost four straight games and own the second-worst record in the league.

The record doesn’t tell the whole story, as the Storm have four losses by two possessions. But of their six double-digit losses this season, three have come during their current losing streak, including Thursday’s 93-73 loss to the Connecticut Sun.

Stewart might not love torching her former teammates, but this is another opportunity for the 2018 WNBA MVP to boost her scoring average, which sits at 23.3 points per game after she went off for 43 points in a 99-95 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.

Like Loyd, Stewart is averaging a career high in scoring, and she is also averaging what would be career highs in rebounds (9.9) and assists (4.2).

In addition to the odds for this matchup, Bovada also has WNBA MVP odds. While A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces have the league’s best record and are favored to win back-to-back WNBA titles, Stewart (-200) is a firm favorite for MVP, ahead of Wilson (+300), and Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas (+1000).

Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty Prediction and Picks

Prediction for Storm vs Liberty: Liberty to win

Picks for Storm vs Liberty: Breanna Stewart over 24.5 points (+105) & New York Liberty team total over 91.5 points (-110)

Stewart may not love inflicting another loss on her former team, but business is business. And just as she had a monster game in her return to Seattle, she will go off again today to help the Liberty pick up their seventh win in eight games.