The WNBA gets a step closer to the postseason with two games on Monday, with the Toronto Tempo versus the Atlanta Dream and the Chicago Sky versus the Seattle Storm. Both matchups have several intriguing betting markets, but I'm going to focus on WNBA first basket scorers.
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Monday’s Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Follow along and make sure to check out our WNBA First Basket Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for help identifying all of today's best prop bets.
Toronto Tempo vs. Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard is responsible for five of Atlanta's 13 first baskets, but she has not made one since July 13th. If you want to go with someone from the Dream, I'd suggest Allisha Gray since she has made two first baskets in the last seven games. In the three prior games between these two teams, Toronto made the first basket in two of them.
Atlanta has made the first basket in 13 out of 32 games, with four coming in the last 10 games and two in their last three. Toronto has been a bit more successful, having made the first basket in 16 out of 31 games, including five of the last 10. The greater frequency has me leaning towards Toronto. Marina Mabrey leads the Tempo with five first baskets, but I'd rather bet on a player with more recent success.
While Toronto did not make the first basket in its last three games, Maria Conde made the first basket in the previous three games.
Picks: Maria Conde (+950)/Marina Mabrey (+600)/Allisha Gray (+600)
Chicago Sky vs. Seattle Storm
Not much has gone right for Seattle this season, but they have been one of the best teams in the league at making the first basket, doing so in 21 out of 34 games. They have also made the first basket in seven of their last 10. Chicago has made the first basket in 17 out of 32 games this season and in five of their last 10.
Both teams have an obvious candidate to bet on in their centers. Dominique Malonga and Kamilla Cardoso have each made six first baskets, but Malonga did so in six fewer games. Cardoso has had more recent success, making two first baskets in Chicago's last five games. Malonga has made one during that span.
I'd lean towards one of the centers, but Flau’jae Johnson may be worth betting a few dollars on to score first. She has made the first basket in three games this season, including two of Seattle's last six. The team also appears to be trying to involve her more on offense. For the season, she has a 24.6% usage rate. But in the Storm's last five, it's up to a team-high 27.6%.
Picks: Kamilla Cardoso (+500)/Dominique Malonga (+500)/Flau'jae Johnson (+650)
