A game that could have playoff implications in the WNBA is taking place on Sunday night: Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury. While the Mercury appear safely in a playoff spot as the final month of the regular season begins, the Storm are in a much more precarious position. The Storm sit in the final playoff position and are in a tight race with the Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics.
Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury: Key Players to Watch
For the Phoenix Mercury, the key player to watch is Alyssa Thomas. While she is only second on her team in scoring, with 16.1 points per game, she is the engine of the offense. Her 8.6 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game lead the team by significant margins and are what separate her as an offensive force from Satou Sabally, who is averaging 17.3 points per game.
Thomas is also a contender in the MVP race. While Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier is the favorite, Thomas is second in odds, according to FanDuel, at +430.
No one sets up their teammates from deep like Alyssa Thomas.
She made history in 27 games. Vandersloot did it in 39 games.
This is what an MVP looks like. pic.twitter.com/Q0noOkqc6K
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 16, 2025
For the Seattle Storm, the player to watch is Nneka Ogwumike. She is a dominant force for the Storm, averaging 18.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, leading her team in both categories.
Odds and Betting Lines for Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury
- Moneyline: Phoenix (-104), Seattle (-118)
- Spread: Phoenix +1 (-112), Seattle -1 (-108)
- Total: Over 165 points (-110), Under 165 points (-110)
Picks and Predictions for Seattle Storm vs Phoenix Mercury
Heading into the game, despite being a stronger team throughout the season, the Phoenix Mercury are a slight underdog in the matchup, according to FanDuel. Phoenix enters the game with a 19-13 record, whereas Seattle has an even 17-17 record.
Neither team has been performing well lately. The Storm are coming off a narrow 80-78 win over the Atlanta Dream on Friday. However, before that, they had lost their previous six games.
The Phoenix Mercury have also struggled despite their high spot in the standings. They lost their two most recent games, including an 86-83 loss to Las Vegas on Friday.
The advantage for Seattle is that it will play this matchup at home after playing its previous two games at home as well. Phoenix is traveling to Seattle after playing at home on Friday. Despite that, we are predicting Phoenix to get back on track with a win on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
Read More:
- Phoenix Mercury’s Kalani Brown Slams Kim Mulkey’s Haters, Blames Her Own Mental Challenges for Past WNBA Failures
- Dawn Staley makes bold case for ex South Carolina star A’ja Wilson for MVP race: “I think she’s it”
- A’ja Wilson’s Exceptional Play Has Analyst Comparing Her to LeBron James, Michael Jordan Amid MVP Race With Napheesa Collier
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