I think it makes sense to take the Storm +5.5 here. Phoenix ended training training camp and now has to travel to Seattle, which is a tough place to play, for their first preseason game. Plus it will be even tougher for Phoenix considering this is an 11 am local start time. Seattle will be playing hard because their roster is not set and the players will be competing against each other to avoid being cut.
Meanwhile while Seattle is coming off a poor season that included the firing of their coach Phoenix is coming off a championship season. I see Seattle with the clear motivational edge while the market is overvaluing Phoenix because of their performance last year. Seattle's new coach will want to win to set a positive tone for the season. Plus Phoenix's star Britney Griner was suspended for the first 7 games of the season and though she will be eligible for this game I can see Phoenix's coach giving extra playing time to her backup to prepare her for her upcoming starting role. Phoenix is also without leading scorer Diana Taurasi who is sitting out the season and also 4th leading scorer Penny Taylor. There will be bumps in the road as Phoenix adjusts to life without them, including in my opinion today's game in Seattle.
OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION: SEATTLE STORM +5.5