WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Valkyries vs. Dream (Saturday)
Games 2 and 3 of the WNBA Finals didn’t look good for the Valkyries, but they still have a chance to tie the series with a win over the Dream in Atlanta today. Yes, I know - easier said than done. But I have one question: Who will score the first basket? Will Golden State finally knock one down first or will the Dream continue dominating this market? Let's talk about some betting options. Here are my top WNBA first basket scorers for each team.
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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.
Atlanta Dream First Basket Scorers
With how the last couple of games have played out, it looks like the Dream is the way to go, right? They've made the first basket in all three games. Heck, Angel Reese is responsible for two of them, and she isn't the one favored to score first tonight (+501).
Why not? I'd say it's because, in each case, she wasn't the first, second or even third person to touch the ball. In Game 2, Naz Hillmon, Kiah Stokes, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard touched the ball before Reese. In Game 3, it took over a minute, and the ball passed through at least seven hands before Reese made the first shot.
I'm not willing to count on a player who made the first basket in a game just twice during the regular season, even though she scored first in the last two games. For Atlanta, it will most likely be either Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada or Allisha Gray who scores first.
If someone from Atlanta scores first, I’m putting my money on Gray. She did it six times during the regular season. In all three games this series, she had her hands on the ball or took a shot before the first basket. But I'm leaning more toward someone from Golden State getting it done tonight.
Pick: Allisha Gray (+650)
Golden State Valkyries First Basket Scorers
If Golden State scores first, it’ll likely be Gabby Williams or Cecilia Zandalasini. Williams has scored the first basket in eight games, while Zandalasini has done so in nine, including a regular-season matchup versus the Dream.
Why back the Valkyries? If Golden State wants to get back in this series, the Valkyries have to be aggressive. Not just in the second half or the final minutes. They need to attack, set the tone and let the Dream know early on this isn’t going to be another cakewalk.
When Golden State scored first against Atlanta in the regular season, it was via a three-pointer (July 4th, June 26th). Zandalasini had one of them. Williams shoots more three-pointers than Zandalasini, but I'll trust her to do it again, since Atlanta will likely expect Williams to take the first shot and defend accordingly.
Picks: Cecilia Zandalasini (+547)/Gabby Williams (+519)