We are officially in full swing with the WNBA season. It's shaping up to be a fun one, with the expansion teams and arguably the most talent the league has ever seen.
WNBA first-basket props are some of the best ways to get in on the action, as you don't have to sweat the entire game before it cashes. Of course, these are high-variance, long odds similar to first-touchdown bets in football, but that is why the odds allow for a nice payout when you get one right. Over a long sample size, the risk gets rewarded.
Remember to shop around, as odds vary widely across books. Remember, this is for first-point scorers, so free throws also count. We hit another first-point bet last week and are looking to stay hot tonight. Here are the best first-basket bets for Wednesday, May 20.
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Wednesday's Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Bets
Last Time: 1-2 | Season: 2-4 (+9.35U). Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Portland Fire vs. Indiana Fever
We start in Indianapolis with the Fire traveling to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever are favored by 13.5 points with the total around 179.5. Both teams come in at 2-2. The Fever are coming off an 11-point win over Seattle, as Caitlin Clark continues her dominance. Portland has been holding serve so far, working through its expanded young roster.
The tip should be Aliyah Boston at 6’5 going up against 6'4 Luisa Geiselsoder. After a shaky start to the season and missing the last bout with an injury, Boston is back in action and should be a big part of the Fever's game plan. She’s been the Fever’s first half-court target consistently, and they need to get her going. Portland's defense has also been second-worst in the league to start the year, so I trust Indiana's ability to capitalize on their first possession.
If Portland wins the tip, it's tough to see a clear early option. Geiselsoder is more of a pick-and-pop center than a true rim threat, which means Portland’s offense likely starts on the perimeter with Carla Leite or Bridget Carleton, but neither is a designed first-bucket target. For Indiana, I may be playing the narrative a bit much, and it's a juiced price, but this just feels like the game where Boston shows everyone that she's back, and does it early.
Pick: Aliyah Boston (+550)
Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky
In Chicago, we have the Sky home opener, as Paige Bueckers and company pay a visit to Wintrust Arena as slight road favorites with a total just shy of 170 points. Chicago has been a bit surprising early on with their 3-1 start to the season, but they just lost their leading scorer, Rickea Jackson, to a torn ACL for the rest of the year.
For the tip, I'm assuming it will be in favor of Chicago with 6'7 Kamilla Cardoso at the helm over either Alanna Smith or Jessica Shepard for Dallas, both at 6'4. I know it's only been four games, but Cardoso has taken the first shot for Chicago in two of their four games. I don't expect any different tonight.
Tyler Marsh has been running Chicago’s early half-court action through Cardoso, and she's been used at a high clip. It also helps that Dallas' defense has been a bottom-four unit to start the year and has allowed the fourth-most points in the paint.
Even if Dallas wins the tip or holds off Chicago to start, it's hard to see where the Wings go with it early. Obviously, Bueckers is an option, but she's only taken the team's first shot once in their four games. It's been spread out, and even last year, it was quite even across the board for who was putting up looks early. I'll eat the chalk here and feel good about it.
Pick: Kamilla Cardoso (+370)
