The WNBA regular season is back in action after the break. While the playoff field is set, teams are still playing for a better seed. Of course, in such games, every basket counts even more, making WNBA first basket scorers props even more intriguing.
We've got three games scheduled for today. Here are my top picks for each.
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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.
Phoenix Mercury vs. Dallas Wings
The trends are hard to ignore for this game. Phoenix has been weak on first baskets all season, making just 15 in 41 games. They made their last two before the break but did not score first in their return to action on Thursday versus Portland.
Dallas, on the other hand, has made the first basket in 24 out of 41 games this season and went on a three-game run before the break, while also scoring first in four out of five games before the break.
Paige Bueckers scored first in the Wings’ first game back on Thursday versus Los Angeles. A Wings player will be the best choice, but who? Guards have had the most success knocking down the first basket against the Mercury, making 11 of the 26 the Mercury have allowed.
Bueckers is one of the best first-basket scorers in the league with eight, including two in the last four games.
Pick: Paige Bueckers (+500)
Chicago Sky vs. Atlanta Dream
This pick isn't as cut-and-dry as Phoenix-Dallas. Both teams scored the first basket in their first game back from the break: Sydney Taylor for Chicago and Angel Reese for Atlanta. This season, Chicago has made 21 first baskets in 41 games, and Atlanta has done so 19 times. Before the break, the Dream scored first in seven of their last 10 games while Chicago did so five times.
If you want to go with someone from Chicago, I like Taylor as a solid longshot, even though she's only done it once. But the data points to Kamilla Cardoso as the best choice on the roster; she's made the most first baskets on the team, and centers have made a higher percentage of first baskets than guards or forwards versus Atlanta.
But the best choice will be someone from the Dream. Atlanta is playing for postseason positioning, and it certainly showed in their first game back. As for who, I'd say it's a toss-up between Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. Forwards have made more first baskets against Chicago, but guards have made the most first baskets for Atlanta. I'd lean towards Gray, but Howard has more first baskets this season (six to four).
Picks: Rhyne Howard (+600)/Allisha Gray (+600)/Kamilla Cardoso (+440)/Sydney Taylor (+850)
Seattle Storm vs. Golden State Valkyries
I feel like I have to mention Dominique Malonga because she’s been one of the better players in the league at making first baskets, despite missing time early in the season due to injury. But Golden State has allowed only a few centers to score first.
Golden State is one of the best teams in the league this season and has arguably the best defense. But the problem is we don't yet know who is or isn’t playing for the Valkyries. Gabby William made the first basket in two of Golden State's last four games, but she didn't play Friday. The Valkyries haven’t released an injury report yet. Cecilia Zandalasini didn't play on Friday either.
For that reason, Malonga may be a viable play, but I'm still leaning towards Zandalasini. That is, assuming she plays. Otherwise, I'd roll with Kayla Thornton.
Picks: Dominique Malonga (+400)/Gabby Williams (+500)/Cecilia Zandalasini (+500)/Kayla Thornton (+1100)
