We are officially in full swing of the WNBA season with the All-Star break on the horizon. WNBA first basket props are some of the best ways to get into action as you don't have to sweat the entire game before it cashes. Of course, these are high variance, long odds similar to first touchdown in football, but that is why the odds allow for a nice payout when you get one right. Over a long sample size, the risk gets rewarded. Remember to shop around as odds vary widely across books and remember this is for first point scorer, so free throws also count.
We've gone a bit cold over the last couple weeks but we're still positive on the year. It's a good time to bounce back. Here are the best first basket bets for the Friday, July 17th slate.
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Friday's Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Bets
Last Time: 0-2 | Season: 6-36 (+2.15U) | Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Chicago Sky
We've seen some issues with the smoke from the wildfires in the midwest and Chicago has taken the brunt of it so there's an off-chance this game gets postponed. But as of now that's not the case so let's see it out.
The Sparks' offense has been abysmal of late, ranking 13th in the league over their last 10 games compared to ninth for the whole season. In that same 10 game time frame, the Sparks rank 14th in defense while Chicago comes in as the fourth best offensive unit. Obviously the first basket means small sample and high variance but with how these two teams match up, you could guarantee a first possession for Los Angeles and I'd still lean a Chicago player to get the first point.
I also trust Kamilla Cardoso on the jump, assuming she's healthy, as she's performed better on the season and already beat Dearica Hamby once this year. Cardoso is the constant favorite but I'm going to go one step down to Azura Stevens as my selection. Stevens actually leads the team in first shot attempts and she's been performing well of late with 18-point and 20-point efforts in her last two games. She's getting the ball early and I like her value more than Cardoso, who is also a fine option.
Pick: Azura Stevens (+519)
Atlanta Dream vs. Toronto Tempo
Next on the docket we have the Dream traveling north to take on the Tempo with a total of 182.5 points. This will be an awesome game with a lot of scoring.
Toronto has also been bad lately with the league's worst defense over their last 10 games. This is another game where I simply just trust Atlanta with the ball more, regardless of tip win rate. With that being said, I do think Angel Reese has a leg up on Nyara Sabally or whoever ends up taking the tip for Toronto.
While Jordin Canada earned the first bucket the last time these two teams squared off, she's only managed one other first score all season. The real dominator to open the lid on scoring has been Rhyne Howard. Howard has over 50 percent of the teams first shot attempts and first buckets, but she's priced at +464. With those stats, and how likely an Atlanta player is to score first, I would've expected it to be closer to +350 or so. Shop around because I'm guessing there's a +500 out there where you can get some serious value.
Pick: Rhyne Howard (+464)
Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury
Brittney Griner returns home to Phoenix to cap off the night as the Mercury sit around 4.5-point favorites with the total around 164 points.
I have to start with Griner because she's been great in the circle, winning 11 of her 14 tips this year and surprisingly even better on the road. The Sun will almost certainly get the first stab here. It's hard not to go to Griner with her ability to dominate in the post but if you know me, you know a Sun value I almost always like. Leila Lacan not only leads the team in first baskets but first attempts too. That's saying something considering she's only played 15 games. The Mercury defensive unit has been bottom four across the entire season so I trust this Connecticut team to push one through and I'm riding with the value of Lacan.
Pick: Leila Lacan (+650)
