WNBA Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (8/25)
The WNBA regular season continues tonight with a total of three games. We have one nationally televised game at 8:00 p.m. ET, as the Portland Fire and Dallas Wings square off in Arlington, Texas. The other two games aren’t televised nationally, however. Let’s build our bankroll with our best WNBA picks and predictions for Tuesday, August 25th.
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Tuesday’s Best WNBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Portland Fire (+285) at Dallas Wings (-360) | O/U 175.5 (-108/-112)
The Fire (15-22) and the Wings (22-16) duke it out on NBA TV at 8:00 p.m. ET. Portland is 7-11 on the road this season, while Dallas has managed a 12-6 mark at home.
These teams have met twice this season, both times in Portland, and have split the series straight up (SU). Portland won 84-83 as 3.5-point underdogs, as the under (167.5) cashed on June 13th. Dallas posted a 101-97 victory as 7.5-point favorites on July 22, as the over (177.5) connected. The Fire is 2-0 against the spread (ATS) in those meetings.
In the most recent meeting last month, Jessica Shepard went off for 18 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for the triple-double, while adding a steal. Arike Ogunbowale recorded 24 points and six assists, while hitting three triples.
Dallas was 40% (12-of-30) from three-point range, while hitting 49% (35-of-72) from the floor. Five players scored at least 11 points, with Paige Bueckers going for 21 points and four triples. The Wings came up with seven steals, too, with five different players posting at least one.
The Fire also had five players in double digits, with Carla Leite recording 12 points and 11 assists. Megan DiLeo paced the team with 21 points, including a 9-of-13 shooting performance. The Fire actually shot 57% (37-of-65) from the field, but Portland was on the short end due to a -13 rebounding differential, mostly thanks to Shepard.
Portland is looking to rebound from a 105-100 loss at home to Washington, although it did hang on for the cover as 5.5-point underdogs. The Fire have been strong against the number lately, going 6-1 ATS in the past seven games. The over against the Mystics was a rarity, as the under is 4-1 in the previous five outings.
Dallas pounded Seattle 92-70 as 8.5-point favorites at home on Sunday, as the under (175.5) connected. The Wings have covered the past two games after a 0-6 ATS skid from August 5-17. The under has cashed in five consecutive games, too.
It’s no surprise we’re going to lean low on the total, and we’ll back Portland to cover the big points here, based on its ability to cover lately and its 2-0 ATS mark versus Dallas this season.
Picks: Fire +8.5 (-112) & Under 175.5 Points (-112)
Washington Mystics (-135) at Phoenix Mercury (+114) | O/U 166.5 (-112/-108)
The Mystics (22-15) and the Mercury (13-24) do battle at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix at 10:00 p.m. ET. Washington is 9-8 on the road this season, while Phoenix has tumbled to a 5-12 record at home.
These teams have met just once this season, with the Mystics hammering the Mercury 95-75 in the nation’s capital, easily covering as 1.5-point favorites on August 9th, as the over (168.5) cashed.
In that 20-point Washington victory, the Mystics had five players finish with 12+ points. They shot 50% (36-of-72) from the field and 38% (11-of-29) from behind the arc.
If there was a complaint, it was that Washington was just 63% (12-of-19) from the free-throw line, leaving plenty of points on the floor. The good news is that the Mystics turned it over just eight times, while posting 11 steals. On the flip side, the Mercury had 16 turnovers while shooting just 42% (29-of-69) from the field, which isn’t a great mix.
Washington won 105-100 in Portland on Sunday, but narrowly missed the cover as 5.5-point favorites, as the over (166.5) cashed for a third consecutive game. The Mystics are 0-3 ATS in that span, and just 1-5 ATS in the previous six outings following an eight-game cover spree.
Phoenix suffered a 99-89 loss to visiting Atlanta on Saturday, just missing the cover as 8.5-point underdogs, as the over (176.5) came through. DeWanna Bonner had 12 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes, but she is no longer with the team, as they bought her out, giving her a chance to join a contender down the stretch.
Kahleah Copper filled up the stat sheet, going for 38 points on 13-of-21 shooting, posting five assists and two three-pointers in the setback. The Mercury have won just once in the past six games, and they’re 1-5 ATS in the span, too. The over is 3-1 in the previous four outings.
We’ll take the Mystics laying the points, but be a little conservative on that. However, it’s perfectly fine to be a little more aggressive on the over, especially since Phoenix’s defense takes a hit with Bonner no longer providing size on the boards and at the defensive end.
Picks: Mystics -2.5 (-105) & Over 166.5 Points (-112)