WNBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (5/23)
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If you tailed me last week, you were 3-0 thanks to early season line inflation from The Caitlin Clark Effect as well as finishing the week nailing the Over in the Mercury’s home opener. This week I easily got to 4-0 behind the Mercury/Aces easy cover. Let’s go 3-0 tonight and keep building that bankroll, win by win.
Here are my top WNBA picks for Thursday, May 23.
Season Record: 4-0 (+3.96 units)
Thursday’s Best WNBA Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Minnesota Lynx (+235) at Connecticut Sun (-6.5) | O/U 163.5 (-110/-110)
Connecticut is a clear-cut title contender and right up there behind the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty who are both sporting double-digit spreads on a regular basis. Connecticut doesn’t invoke the same kind of fear with bettors like those two so we can take advantage of more easily covered spreads while still feeling the security of backing one of the big dogs. The Sun have already taken care of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever both home and away. In their other game, they were down four to the Mystics heading into the 4th quarter before ultimately pulling away to win by seven at Mohegan Sun.
As for the undefeated Lynx, both victories have come impressively over the Seattle Storm. However, they have both come over the 2-3 Storm so we have yet to see this year’s squad against anyone else in a game that counts this season.
The Sun are led by DeWanna Bonner’s 21.3 point average as well as Alyssa Thomas, who is nearly averaging a triple-double: 16.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists. The Lynx are led by Napheesa Collier and her 24.5 point/10.5 rebound double-double average in the early goings.
The Lynx also have not played in almost a week since their 2OT thriller in Minnesota last Friday. The Sun are also plenty rested, having not played since Monday’s 88-84 win in Indiana, so they should see more of the rest and recovery aspect of the time off and the Lynx could see more rust, especially early in the season.
The Suns should be able to pull away at home and cover this spread as they have in both home games so far.
WNBA Pick: Sun -6.5 (-110)
Washington Mystics (+230) at Phoenix Mercury (-6.5) | O/U 161.5 (-110/-110)
The Sun are coming off a stunning 98-88 drubbing off the two-time defending world champion Las Vegas Aces at the Michelob Ultra Arena on Tuesday night. They are now back home to the friendly confines of Footprint Arena where they host the 0-4 Washington Mystics.
The Mercury are also 3-0 ATS this season with two outright victories despite being underdogs in all three previous games before tonight. The Mystics are 2-2 ATS this season but have failed to cover the spread in two straight games including losing by two to the Sparks last time out against a +1.5 spread.
Additionally, this total is just too darn low. Phoenix has yet to play a game with a total below 169 so far and although only one of Washington’s four games has hit this total, two of the other three came close seeing totals of 161 and 159. I expect Phoenix to be in control of this game where their offense, who averages 87.3 points while allowing no fewer than 85 points in any game this season, can do a lot of the heavy lifting on both sides of this Over
.
The Mercury are the better team and that will show tonight in what will likely be a boat race in The Valley.
WNBA Picks: Mercury -6.5 (-110) & Over 161.5 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.