WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Saturday (6/6)
The WNBA first basket scorers market is a tricky one, but not an impossible one to tackle. There are four WNBA games today, and we have a pick for each. The following are my best WNBA first basket scorers for Saturday.
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Saturday’s Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Seattle Storm vs. Minnesota Lynx
My first thought was to go with someone from Minnesota since Seattle has been a mess this season. But the Lynx made the first shot in only three games this season; Seattle has done so five times. Minnesota has only attempted the first shot in four games; the Storm have done so in eight.
Flau’jae Johnson is one of three players for the Storm to have taken the first shot in a game twice (Jordan Horston and Jade Melbourne are the other two). But Johnson is the only one to have made the first basket twice.
Pick: Flau'jae Johnson (+650)
Golden State Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces
When these two teams played on May 31st, Jackie Young (Vegas) scored the first basket of the game. But if I were to go with a member of the Aces, it would have to be A'ja Wilson. She has taken the first shot twice and made both.
As a team, Las Vegas has taken the first shot and made the first basket in six games. But Golden State has taken the first shot in five games and scored first four times. However, only two players have been involved. Gabby Williams took three of the shots and made two, while Kayla Thornton was the other.
Wilson is pretty much always a good pick, but I think I'd roll with Williams (if you only want to bet on one player). With only two players recording the shot in question for Seattle, picking the one who has made the first basket multiple times is an obvious choice.
Picks: Gabby Williams (+600)/A'ja Wilson (+460)
Washington Mystics vs. Atlanta Dream
Washington has taken the first shot in a game seven times this season, scoring first six times. Shakira Austin has attempted and made the most (three of each). Atlanta hasn't been nearly as busy with four attempts and four makes. Naz Hillmon has attempted the first shot and made it once.
Austin is the easy choice since she has scored the first basket in three games. But Washington is a mess on offense and is facing one of the best defenses in the league. Consequently, I'm leaning towards an Atlanta player making the first basket. Hillmon is a solid longshot.
Picks: Shakira Austin (+410)/Naz Hillmon (+1100)
Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty
It's easy to make a case for either team to make the first basket in this game. Indiana has attempted the first shot in six games this season, two by Aliyah Boston and four by Kelsey Mitchell. As a team, Indiana has scored the first basket in six games, with Boston and Mitchell each doing it twice. Either is a solid choice.
Breanna Stewart might be the best option, though. She is one of five Liberty players to take the first shot in a game and the only one to do so twice. As for the deciding factor, while Indiana made the first basket in five consecutive games, New York has done so in its last six.
Picks: Breanna Stewart (+380)/Aliyah Boston (+600)/Kelsey Mitchell (+550)