The WNBA often plays games during the day on weekends, but not today. All three Saturday games are scheduled in the evening hours, and that's OK. That just means we have a little more time to go over the best WNBA first basket scorers for tonight's games. Here are my best picks for each contest.
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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. Indiana Fever
First basket odds were not available for this game, but FanDuel Sportsbook has odds for the player to score the first basket for their team.
I found one unverified source that claims Kelsey Mitchell made the team's first basket in seven games. That same source claims Caitlin Clark has made the team's first basket eight times (all three-pointers), attempting the first basket in 45% of attempts. As for New York, Breanna Stewart has made the team's first basket six times while Jonquel Jones has done so five times.
When it comes to team first baskets, I'm going with the players who have their hands on the ball the most, and that's Clark (31.1%) and Stewart (26.9%).
Picks: Kelsey Mitchell (+240)/Caitlin Clark (+300)/Breanna Stewart (+200)/Jonquel Jones (+240)
Portland Fire vs. Minnesota Lynx
This game is kind of a unique situation. Minnesota has been terrible at making the first basket, having done so in just six games and only twice in the last eight. Portland has done better overall (12) but made the first basket in three of its last eight - all by Megan Gustafson, who is out.
Carla Leite made the first basket when these two teams played earlier in the season, but that was the only time she did so. Olivia Miles and Leite have their hands on the ball more than anyone else on their teams, and both have an effective field goal rate over 50%. Either is a good choice for this game, but since Minnesota almost never makes the first basket, Leite is my top choice.
Picks: Carla Leite (+600)/Olivia Miles (+480)
Washington Mystics vs. Golden State Valkyries
Shakira Austin is easily the best choice to make the first basket in this game. All the data points to her. Washington has won the opening tip in 19 out of 23 games this season, and has attempted the first shot in as many games.
Of those 19 first attempts, Austin is responsible for six of them, along with eight of the team's first baskets. The Mystics have made the first basket in seven of their last eight games -Austin made four of them, including on July 6th against Golden State.
Pick: Shakira Austin (+440)
