WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Saturday (6/20)
Now that the NBA season is over, bettors can focus on the WNBA, which has a three-game slate on tap today. Each game has many betting markets to choose from, but I am going to focus on WNBA first basket scorers. The following are my top WNBA first basket picks in each of today’s three games.
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Saturday’s Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream
There is an obvious best choice for each team based on the analytics, and it is not Caitlin Clark nor Angel Reese. Reese has made the first basket in a game once, but hasn't attempted the first shot in a game. Clark has done neither.
No one has attempted the first shot in a higher percentage of her team's games than Kelsey Mitchell (40%). Rhyne Howard has attempted the first basket in 23.1% of games. Both have made the first basket in three games.
Atlanta made the first basket in both prior matchups; Howard made it in Thursday night's game. Indiana hasn't made the first basket in its last seven games, which has me leaning toward the Dream. Atlanta has scored first in two of its last five games, both by Howard.
If you want to bet on just one player, take Howard.
Picks: Kelsey Mitchell (+550)/Rhyne Howard (+650)
Seattle Storm vs. Phoenix Mercury
Dominique Malonga is easily the best choice for this game. A Seattle player has attempted the first shot in 10 out of 16 games, making the first basket in nine of them. Phoenix has attempted the first shot in four games and scored the first basket in eight games. Flau'jae Johnson made the first basket for Seattle when these teams last played on June 3rd.
Malonga has made the first basket in 37.5% of her games. Had she not missed so much time due to an early-season concussion, she would have probably made more.
Pick: Dominique Malonga (+480)
Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings
This game is a bit more challenging to make just one pick. Dallas is the better team, but Chicago (despite its struggles) has made the first basket in eight of its last nine games. Four players made at least one, led by Azura Stevens with three. But then there's Dallas, who seldom takes the first shot (five in 15 games), but has made the first basket in 10, including seven of its last eight.
Stevens did it for Chicago in the Sky's last game and in two of their last five. Paige Bueckers has scored the first basket in three of the last six games for the Wings. For this game, split your stake and put a little something on both.
Picks: Azura Stevens (+600)/Paige Bueckers (+500)