WNBA Picks & Predictions: Friday (7/3)
There is an exciting slate of WNBA games on Friday night. Two matchups highlight some of the most intriguing teams in the league. Let's take a look at those matchups for our best WNBA picks for Friday night.
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Friday’s Best WNBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty
The Minnesota Lynx have navigated the first half of the WNBA season head and shoulders above the rest of the teams in the league. At 15-4, both straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS), no team comes close to their success. On Friday, they match up with the New York Liberty for the first time this season.
New York has had success this year in their own right. They rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive rating . They shoot the ball well, they defend the floor well, they get to the free throw line and they don't foul their opponents. They don't have many weaknesses, but one that they do have could be a massive problem against the Lynx.
The Liberty boasts one of the highest turnover rates in the WNBA. At 14.2 turnovers per game, they rank fourth-worst. This will be a major concern for a Minnesota defense that capitalizes on opponents’ mistakes. The Lynx produce the third-highest defensive turnover rate in the league and could really get the Liberty out of rhythm offensively.
The Lynx will look to continue with their dominant start to the WNBA season in pursuit of a championship. You can expect the Lynx to be locked in on both sides of the floor and showcase their top-rated defense. Much like the late-season matchups with these contenders last season, expect to see a low-scoring affair that the Lynx should dominate on both sides of the court.
Picks: Lynx -2.5 (-108) & Under 174.5 Points (-106)
Chicago Sky at Las Vegas Aces
These two teams met on Sunday in Chicago, with the Aces coming out with the 107-99 victory. Both teams shot the ball very well. The Aces posted a 52.4% field-goal rate with a 40% clip from deep and made a whopping 31 of their 37 free-throw attempts. The Sky attempted 25 of their own free throws and managed to shoot 46.3% on 80 attempts.
For the Sky, this number of free throws was fairly par for the course. Fifty free throws are attempted per game in Chicago’s contests this season. They also like to play at one of the fastest paces in the league, just behind the Fever. Because of this, they've gone 12-7 to the over on the season, including 7-3 over their last 10 games.
The Aces have a perfectly capable offense and boast the league’s highest field-goal rate. Typically, the Sky haven't given up phenomenal shooting nights as they did on Sunday. Their woes on defense stem mostly from poor rebounding, an inability to force turnovers and excessive fouling.
If Las Vegas doesn't have the same success shooting the ball, it can still have a lot of success by winning the boards and getting to the free-throw line again.
The Sky is going to want to push the pace, and the Aces are more than happy to oblige. Their shooting ability makes them a threat to almost any defense, especially one ranked near the bottom of the league in defensive rating. At this high of a spread, I'm not sure I want to take the Aces in a game where they could be ripe for a defensive lapse, but I will surely be on the over.
Pick: Over 181.5 Points (-114)