There is an exciting slate of WNBA games on Friday night. Three matchups highlight some of the most intriguing teams in the league. Let's take a look at some of those matchups and go over our top WNBA picks for Friday, July 31st.
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Friday’s Best WNBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Dallas Wings at Washington Mystics
The Mystics sizzled into the All-Star break and then came out with a big win against the Sun. Next on the schedule is the Wings twice over the next week, with the first game today in Washington. The biggest reason that the Mystics have gotten hot recently is that their offense has finally woken up.
On the season, the Mystics rank second-to-last in the league in points per game (PPG) and second-to-last in offensive rating. However, in their last three games, the Mystics have scored 90, 100 and 92 points. Can they maintain this level of success against Dallas this weekend?
One reason you can expect their offensive momentum to slow down is that they're still one of the slowest teams in the league in pace. Dallas is also a team that plays in the lower half of the league in terms of pace. This is a game and matchup that will bring out the Mystics’ offense that averaged just 67.4 PPG in the last five games before this recent surge in offense.
The Wings are also coming off two tough losses to Atlanta and New York, two of the best teams in the league. The Wings should have much more success against a Mystics team that is much closer to league average. I'll be backing the Wings to cover this spread in a low-scoring affair.
Picks: Under 168.5 Points (-110) & Wings -2.5 (-114)
Indiana Fever at Portland Fire
No team in the league is hotter than the Fever. Indiana has posted four consecutive games over 100 points and has done so in six of their last nine. They'll look to continue their hot streak on Friday night in Portland against the Fire.
It's been a rough start to the Fire’s inaugural season. They rank near the bottom of the league in NET Rating and have the second-worst defensive rating in the league behind just the Toronto Tempo. They will have a very tough time slowing down July’s best offense in the league.
The Fever's biggest weakness on the offensive end is their propensity to turn the ball over. What this Portland defense lacks in most areas is made up for by the fact that they're one of the best teams in the league at forcing turnovers. The Fire are a team that could slow down this Fever team enough to keep them under 100 points.
Even with the recent success on the offensive end for the Fever, this point total is entirely too high. Portland has defensive deficiencies, but they can reduce Indiana’s scoring opportunities with turnovers. Additionally, the Fever are only 7-5 to the over on the road this season as opposed to 11-5 at home. This is a matchup and spot that could give Indiana trouble, and I'll be fading that hot offense with an under play.
Pick: Under 189.5 Points (-106)
