After a busy day of WNBA action on Tuesday, there is only one game on Wednesday. The Connecticut Sun will host the Phoenix Mercury, and to the surprise of no one, the Mercury are heavy favorites over the 2-9 Sun, who are also playing the second day of a back-to-back. While Satou Sabally is predicted to score first by the major sportsbooks, I'm looking at three other players with more betting value for tonight.
Here are the best WNBA first basket bets for Wednesday, June 18th.
Wednesday’s Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Props: Mercury vs. Sun
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Phoenix Mercury vs. Connecticut Sun
Despite being heavily favored, Mercury players don't have great odds of scoring the first basket of the game. While Satou Sabally has the shortest odds of any player at +380, two of the top three favorites to score first are on the Sun.
When you look closer, this seems like it makes sense. The Mercury have failed to score first in three of their last four games. However, during that span, they haven't faced a team as bad as the Sun. First baskets are relatively random, but this is a game that the Mercury could easily lead from start to finish without ever trailing. But if that's the case, then which players should we back to score first?
Pick 1: Alyssa Thomas (+700)
The first Mercury player I'm backing is Alyssa Thomas. She is the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 14.4 points per game. She scored the first basket in the Mercury's last game, and she assisted on the team's first basket two games ago. Perhaps more important than either of those facts is that the price for Thomas is phenomenal. She's averaging just six points fewer than Sabally this season, yet the price for her to score first is nearly double that of her teammate.
Pick 2: Monique Akoa-Makani (+1400)
For my second pick, I'm once again backing the Mercury. Though she's only averaging 7.6 points per game, Monique Akoa-Makani has started all 12 games for the Mercury this season. She is rarely involved offensively in early possessions, but knowing she will be on the court in the first few minutes of the game makes this a low-risk, high-reward play.
Pick 3: Marina Mabrey (+850)
Now, what if the Sun score first tonight? Well, I think there are two players worth looking at in that scenario. First, you could consider taking the team's leading scorer, Tina Charles, who is averaging 17.1 points per game. While Charles makes the most sense for the Sun, oddsmakers unfortunately agree, and her price is set at just +460.
That's why I'm backing Marina Mabrey, who is the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game. Two games ago, she scored the first two baskets of the game for the Sun, and three games ago, she scored second. She's always involved in the Sun's first possession of the game, so it just comes down to whether she gets an open look. For this price, it's worth taking that chance.
