Betting on a WNBA game does make the watching experience more entertaining, but there is something that can make it even better. That something is winning money in the first few moments of a game. How so? By betting on WNBA first basket scorers.
We've got three games on deck for the second Saturday in July. The following are our best WNBA first basket prop picks for each game.
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Saturday’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.
New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx
As good as Minnesota is this season, they seldom win the opening tip-off (18.2%), rarely take the first shot (27.3%) or make the first basket (27.3%). In their last five games, they made the first basket just once.
However, that one game was against the Liberty. New York often wins the opening tip-off (60.9%) and has attempted the first shot in half of its games. The Liberty has also made the first shot in half of their games, with seven players making at least one.
Neither team is a slam dunk to score first, but Minnesota has done so just twice in the last 10 games. So, I feel like I have to go with a New York player. My first choice, Leonie Fiebich, is out with an injury, so we’re going with Jonquel Jones or Breanna Stewart (both have scored the first basket twice).
Picks: Jonquel Jones (+440)/Breanna Stewart (+650)
Portland Fire vs. Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard is the obvious player to go with to make the first basket in this game. She has attempted the first shot in six games while making it in four. However, while Howard has been active in the opening moments of games, the Dream have not made the first basket in their last five games.
The Fire haven't done so in their last three, but Megan Gustafson recently made the first basket in back-to-back games (both vs. Chicago). Atlanta is one of the top teams in the WNBA this season despite their recent slump, while Portland has looked much like you'd expect an expansion team to.
Given Atlanta's recent struggles, this may be a great game to bet on a longshot like Gustafson.
Picks: Rhyne Howard (+440)/Megan Gustafson (+750)
Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces
Las Vegas is a rarity in that the Aces have five players who have made the first basket in multiple games. But none have made more than superstar A'ja Wilson, with five. She made the first basket in the Aces’ last game and in three of their last eight.
Phoenix has made the first basket in one of its last 10 games (incidentally, their last game). There is no reason to think they'll do so in this game, especially against an offensive powerhouse like the Aces.
Pick: A'ja Wilson (+410)
