WNBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (5/18)
The 2024 WNBA is upon us and I will be here breaking down the top picks on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays this season. Join me as we build our bankrolls this summer!
If you tailed me so far this week, you are 2-0 thanks to early season line inflation from The Caitlin Clark Effect. Today, we venture away from the Fever and travel out West with the Atlanta Dream to the Valley of the Sun as they face the Phoenix Mercury at “The Purple Palace†aka Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ.
Here is my top WNBA pick for Saturday, May 19.
Season Record: 2-0
Saturday’s Best WNBA Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Atlanta Dream (-102) at Phoenix Mercury (-1) | O/U 170 (-110/-110)
Granted, it has been a small sample size, but both of these teams have fired out of the gate, offensively, with Atlanta and Phoenix scoring 92 and 80 points respectively in their season openers. Both defenses also left something to be desired as both teams gave up 81+ with the Mercury surrendering 89. This lack of defense also bodes well for hitting tonight’s number.
Atlanta had four players with 12+ points in their first game led by Rhyne Howard’s 25. Tina Charles had 21 points to go with 14 rebounds while Haley Jones and Allisha Gray contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively. These four combined for 72 of Atlanta’s 92 points against the Sparks and will do most of the Dream’s heavy lifting on their side of this Over. Phoenix also had four players in double figures, with all four pouring in 14+, led by Diana Taurasi’s 23. Kahleah Cooper pitched in 19 points of her own while Rebecca Allen and Natasha Cloud both notched 14. Both teams are shot 41.7% from deep in their season openers, which is another ingredient in the recipe for a delicious Over.
Atlanta’s previous game hit this mark, finishing at 172 while Phoenix’s opener could have fit a sheet of paper between their total (169) and this number so literally one bounce differently, and both of these teams would have hit this number. Brittney Griner and all 6’9″ of her rim protection remain out indefinitely with a toe injury only making scoring inside on Phoenix that much less intimidating of a notion. This was evidenced by the aforementioned 89 points the Mercury gave up to the defending champion Aces on Tuesday night.
Take advantage of this number while it doesn’t have a hook on it to keep the push in play and bet the Over tonight.
WNBA Pick: Over 170 Total Points (-110)
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Luke Monaldo is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @MoKnowsSports and Discord @alydar1227 AKA The GIFTing Crooner. For more from Luke, check out his archive.