WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Saturday (6/13)
It is going to be a busy day for WNBA fans today with four games on the schedule. Of course, four games equals plenty of great markets to bet on, from parlays to props and, for the purposes of this article, WNBA first basket scorers.
Predicting WNBA first basket props is a tricky matter, which is why the prop tends to result in a nice payday. Let's get right to it and discuss our best WNBA first basket picks for today's slate.
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Saturday’s Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun
I am a little surprised that three players have shorter odds than Kelsey Mitchell. Maybe it makes sense for Brittney Griner to have short odds as a center who will be in a great spot in the paint, but she's recorded the first shot/first basket in a game once (out of six games). Mitchell has made the first shot in six out of 12 games this season and the first basket in four.
Pick: Kelsey Mitchell (+750)
Minnesota Lynx vs. Las Vegas Aces
Minnesota and Las Vegas have the two highest-scoring and highest-rated offenses in the league. You'd think there would be solid candidates from both teams to make the first basket, but that is not the case.
A player from the Lynx attempted the first shot in just five games and made the first basket in three. But five players have attempted the first shot and made the first basket in seven games on the Aces. A'ja Wilson and Stephanie Talbot each have two first baskets.
As the team's superstar and arguably the best player in the league, Wilson is a solid bet. But at +1200 odds, it is worth putting a few bucks on Talbot, too.
Picks: A'ja Wilson (+310)/Stephanie Talbot (+1200)
Dallas Wings vs. Portland Fire
Portland is having a good season so far, especially as an expansion team. But Dallas is by far the better team and easily has the better offense between the two.
A player from the fire has attempted the first shot in four games and made the first basket in three. A player from the Wings has attempted the first shot just twice (Paige Bueckers) but has made the first basket in eight games, including their last five.
Bueckers has recorded three first baskets this season and two of the last five for the Wings. Maddy Siegrist has also attempted and made two first baskets.
Picks: Paige Bueckers (+550)/Maddy Siegrist (+1000)
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Phoenix Mercury
I'm not crazy about either team, but my gut says to go with the Sparks because they are by far the better offensive team. But instead of taking the obvious choice in Kelsey Plum, Nneka Ogwumike is the better option. She has attempted the first shot twice and made it three times.
However, an L.A. player has attempted the first shot only 4 times and made it 6 times. Phoenix, for all its faults, has attempted the first shot in five games and made the first basket in eight. Three players have made two first baskets, but Alyssa Thomas is the only one to have also attempted the first shot twice.
Picks: Nneka Ogwumike (+600)/Alyssa Thomas (+400)