WNBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (8/21)
It is a great day for betting on the WNBA with four potentially competitive games on the schedule. At this point in the season, you can't count anyone out, no matter how lopsided a game looks on paper. That makes it more challenging to pick the Best WNBA Bets of the day, but we are here to help.
I want to touch on all four games, so let's get started. Time to talk basketball!
Thursday's Best WNBA Picks & Bets
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Washington Mystics (-2) at Connecticut Sun (+118) | O/U 158.5
On paper, it looks like Connecticut has played solid defense at home in August (77.5 points allowed in four games). But don't buy what the numbers are selling. Washington can shoot better than they did Tuesday night and will do better tonight. These two teams combined for 170+ in their first two games and combined for 149 on Tuesday *80-69). Look for both teams to score 80+ tonight. Take the OVER.
Pick: Over 158.5 Totsl Points (-110)
Chicago Sky (+15.5) at New York Liberty (-1800) | O/U 163.0
One thing should not be in question for this game-New York will win. Even without Breanna Stewart and even if Sabrina Ionescu has an off night, the Liberty have enough firepower to take down a poor Chicago Sky team.
However, with Angel Reese back in the lineup Tuesday, Chicago wasn't a pushover. They gave a Seattle team that was favored by 11.5 points a good fight but lost 94-88. But New York is a better team than the Storm and has already beaten the Sky by 15 and 19 points this season.
The Sky aren’t a good team, but they play better with Reese in the game. The Liberty, however, has been a 5-4 team since the All-Star break; good, but nothing special. New York will win this game, but unless Sabrina Ionescu goes off from three-point range, it will not be a double-digit win.
Pick: Sky +15.5 (-110)
Minnesota Lynx (-2.5) at Atlanta Dream (+120) | O/U 161.5
These two teams have already met twice, with each winning once by four points. Collier may be back, which certainly gives the Lynx a definitive edge. But it would be smarter for Minnesota to keep her out with a playoff run to the WNBA Finals on deck.
Atlanta, on the other hand, could maintain their lead on the Aces and Mercury (both are .5 games back) for the No. 3 seed and could potentially move in front of the Liberty for the No. 2 seed. That motivation could give the Dream what they need to overcome an excellent Lynx team.
Minnesota has bounced back after every loss this season, and that very well may be the case here as well. But Atlanta is a good team with something to play for and will not roll over for the Lynx. I don't know who will win, but like the first two meetings (176 and 188 points), I think we will see a high score.
Pick: Over 161.5 Total Points (-110)
Phoenix Mercury (+100) at Las Vegas Aces (-1.5) | O/U 170.5
It is really tough to beat A'ja Wilson and the Aces when the reigning MVP goes off, which she has been doing often of late. It was a close game last Saturday when these two teams met in Phoenix, but behind a 30-point, 16-rebound performance from Wilson, the Aces won, 86-83. Vegas has won eight in a row and ten of their last 11. Phoenix is good, but not good enough to overcome a red-hot Aces team at home.
Pick: Aces -1.5 (-110)