WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Saturday (5/24)

Someone has to be first, whether it's the first turnover, first block, first steal or the first to score a basket. Part of the beauty in betting on WNBA first basket props is that it doesn't matter if a team is a heavy favorite or a massive underdog. They just have to score first.

What happens after that is covered under other markets. Check out our WNBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for more WNBA props.

New York Liberty vs. Indiana Fever

Neither team has shown a pattern yet as to who scores first (of course, the season is young, so it is hard for one to develop, yet). It doesn't matter if they are at home or on the road. Both teams have scored first and have seen the opponent score first. A different player has scored first for each team in every game.

For betting purposes, I have to recommend players who are more apt to take that first shot and make it. For New York, that means going with:

• Natasha Cloud (13.5 field-goal attempts per game; 51.9% from the floor): +1500
• Breanna Stewart (11 field-goal attempts per game; 59.1% from the floor): +425

As for Indiana, there are three solid choices:

• Kelsey Mitchell (15.3 field-goal attempts per game; 47.8% from the floor): +1000
• Natahsa Howard (14.7 field-goal attempts per game; 55.3% from the floor): +850
• Aliyah Boston (10.7 field-goal attempts per game; 59.4% from the floor): +900

If you just want to roll the dice on one player, I'd have to say go with Breanna Stewart. Indiana has failed to score first in two out of three games this season. New York has yet to score first in a game, but I like a shooter hitting better than 50% of her shots to score first.

Pick: Breanna Stewart (+425)

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Dallas Wings vs. Atlanta Dream

Both teams in this case have scored the first basket in two out of their three games played, at home and on the road. Like the Fever-Liberty game, I want to look at who is shooting the most and who has the best shot percentage. For Dallas, it may not be as simple as that. Arike Ogunbowale (+900) and Paige Bueckers (+550) are attempting the most shots (15.3 field-goal attempts per game; 11.7% from the floor, respectively).

But they are also making just 30.4% and 37.1% of their shots. If you look at the shot percentage, it's Teaira McCowan at 62.5% (2.7 field-goal attempts per game) and NaLyssa Smith (+600) at 55.6% (six field-goal attempts per game), leading the way.

Atlanta is in a similar situation. Rhyne Howard (+475) and Allisha Gray (+130) lead the way in attempts (16.3 and 14, respectively) but make a low percentage of those shots (34.7% and 38.1%, respectively). From a percentage standpoint, Brittney Griner (+400) is making 48.6% of her shots (11.7 field-goal attempts per game).

For this game, I am also going to look at which team is attempting more field goals and making a higher percentage of them, and which defense is allowing the most/highest percentage. The winner is...

Dallas is attempting more shots and making a higher percentage, while Atlanta is allowing more shot attempts and a higher percentage. So, let’s go with Bueckers.

Pick: Paige Bueckers (+550)

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Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday: