WNBA First Basket Scorers & Picks: Wednesday (9/30)
The WNBA has reached the playoffs, and now we're working to finish the season strong and in the green. WNBA first basket scorers are one of the best ways to get in on the action, since you don't have to sweat the entire game.
Of course, these are high-variance bets with long odds, similar to first touchdown scorer bets in football, but that is why the odds offer a nice payout when you get one right. With a large sample size, the risk is rewarded. Remember to shop around as odds vary widely across sportsbooks. Remember, these bets are on the first point scorer, so free throws count as well.
It has been quite the up-and-down season, but that's what happens when you bet such long-odds plays. Here are the best WNBA first basket picks for Wednesday, September 30th.
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Wednesday’s Best WNBA First Basket Scorers & Bets
Last Time: 0-2 | Season: 9-59 (+0.15 units)
Atlanta Dream vs. Washington Mystics
We start in Washington, where the Mystics are 4.5-point underdogs against the Dream, with Atlanta taking the first game. The Dream rallied from double-digit points to win Game 1, and I expect them to do well again tonight. But we’re focused just on the first basket. The opening tip-off will be between Shakira Austin and Angel Reese. Reese won the tip-off in Game 1, but they are 2-2 head-to-head on opening tip-offs in their careers.
Atlanta has been the better offense this year, and the odds favor a Dream player scoring the first basket of the game. But I'm leaning towards the more favorable odds for Washington scoring first, especially given Austin's 63% tip-off win rate. There isn't a better option than Austin to score first. She more than doubles other players' first-shot attempts and has nearly half of the team's first baskets.
The odds are short. The first bucket in Game 1 was a three-pointer, and now I think it will be a higher-percentage look.
Pick: Shakira Austin (+366 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings
The other game of the evening is the Golden State Valkyries against the Dallas Wings, with Golden State leading 1-0. This is another example where the two jumpers are pretty good matches, going 1-1 against each other over their lifetimes.
In the first game, Kiah Stokes won the opening tip for Golden State, and they are the team favored to get the first bucket. Usually, when it's more of a coin flip, I'd try to find the best odds, but Dallas has recorded the first shot attempt in only 40% of their games, and even fewer at home.
For the Valkyries, over half of their first shot attempts have come from beyond the arc, so I'm leaning Gabby Williams for the first bucket. She has the second-most first-shot attempts on the team, matches up well against Dallas and her odds aren't super short.
Pick: Gabby Williams (+500 at Caesars Sportsbook)