The Washington Mystics take on the Phoenix Mercury. Our WNBA odds series has our Mystics Mercury prediction, odds, and pick. Find out how to watch Mystics Mercury.

The Washington Mystics are not a good team right now. They are winless on the season, and without key cog Brittney Sykes, they're not able to score at the rate they need to. The Mystics average 75 points per game, which is the worst offense in the WNBA. The Mystics did not score more than 75 points in each of their last two games, and in their most recent game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Sparks, they managed only 68 points. Washington was held to 32 points in the second half, only 13 in the fourth quarter. Washington held Los Angeles to just 70 points. On most nights, that should be good enough to win, but not in this case.

What makes the loss to Los Angeles even more frustrating for Washington is that the Mystics forced a whopping 24 turnovers by the Sparks and still couldn't parlay that into a victory. Part of why the Mystics lost: They were just 6 of 11 at the free throw line. They didn't shoot 3-pointers especially well, either. Washington, without Sykes, is a noticeably worse offensive team. The Mystics got just 48 total points from their starting five in the two-point loss to Los Angeles. That's alarmingly bad. No Mystic starter scored more than 12 points. Only two players finished in double figures. The bench was actually decent, producing 20 points against the Sparks, but the starters did not do their part, and as a result, the Mystics remained winless on the season. They have to find a way to get into the win column on this Western road trip.

Here are the Mystics-Mercury WNBA Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.

WNBA Odds: Mystics-Mercury Odds

Washington Mystics: +6.5 (-112)

Phoenix Mercury: -6.5 (-108)

Over: 161.5 (-110)

Under: 161.5 (-110)

How to Watch Mystics vs. Mercury

TV: Monumental Sports (Mystics) / Prime Video (national)

Stream: WNBA League Pass

Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

*Watch WNBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why The Mystics Could Cover The Spread

Washington is going to figure this thing out sooner or later. What is also worth noting is that even while losing games straight up, Washington has been able to cover on multiple occasions. The Mystics covered the spread against the New York Liberty in the season opener a week ago. They covered the spread in the loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday night. The Sparks went off as 3.5-point favorites at tip time. Washington lost by only two. With the spread here being 6.5 points, the Mystics — who are going to play good defense — have a solid chance of keeping the game very close and ultimately covering the spread.

Why The Mercury Could Cover The Spread

The Mercury might be a genuinely good team, not merely a team which is better than a lot of other mediocre WNBA squads. This team might have a chance to win 25 games this season, something a lot of experts probably weren't predicting before the season began. The reason for Phoenix's optimism is Kahleah Copper, who has been the best player in the WNBA over the past two games of league play. Copper has played like a superstar in her last two games, dropping 38 points on Saturday in a win over the Atlanta Dream and then scoring 37 against the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday. If Copper continues to be pure gold for Phoenix, the Mercury will continue to rise in the WNBA and cover a bunch of additional spreads.

Final Mystics-Mercury Prediction & Pick

The Mercury are good, but the Mystics are desperate. Stay away from this game.

Final Mystics-Mercury Prediction & Pick: Mercury -6.5