WNBA Best Bets for Friday, June 2
New York Liberty -10.5 at Chicago Sky, 161.5
This will be a home-and-home series that starts in Chicago before heading to New York on Sunday. The Sky are currently dealing with injuries and for this game will continue to be without Morgan Bertsch (sidelined for 1-2 more weeks), Rebekah Gardner, and Isabelle Harrison (both aren’t expected back anytime soon.) Still, laying double digits on the side opposite Kahleah Copper and Head Coach James Wade, at home no less, is not something I’m itching to do. But this Sky team is shorthanded and looked it in their most recent loss to the Dream on Tuesday, 83- 65. If anything, I’d look under, except on Kahleah Copper’s points. She has exceeded 14.5 points and made two three-pointers in 3 of 5 games so far this season.
This will also be a homecoming for Courtney Vandersloot who is playing her former team for the first time in a Liberty uniform. Vandersloot notched 11 assists in the Liberty’s most recent win over the Storm and has seen an uptick in assists in each game so far (6, 8, 10, 11). If there were any assist props to bet on her, I’d be in.
Kahleah Copper OVER 14.5 points
Dallas Wings at Washington Mystics -7, 163.5
The Mystics are back home after a two-point win over Chicago last Friday, while the Wings just beat the Lynx at home on Tuesday. This is an interesting matchup because Dallas loves to play fast (ranked 1st in pace), but the Mystics’ defense is incredible at slowing teams down. Nevertheless, last year two of their three contests still went over, and the one under featured an atypical poor shooting night from Arike Ogunbowale who only notched six points.
Washington has had a week off to recalibrate after starting the season 2-2 against tough competition, but I’m not convinced they should be laying 7 points here, especially against a Dallas team that has previously performed very well on the road. Washington has seen excellent work in the paint from Elena Delle Donne and Shakira Austin, who have combined for 47% of the Mystics’ offense so far this season. But they have looked lost as a team at times on the offensive end and will have Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard to contend with in this one. The Wings have seen four straight overs in their first four games. I lean that way, but I will likely look for a live betting opportunity to see what the Mystics’ plan of attack is and how their offense looks after the week off.
Lean OVER 163.5
Las Vegas Aces -11 at Atlanta Dream, 171.5
People forget that the Atlanta Dream actually beat the Aces once last season, 92-76. Of course, Tiffany Hayes (who is now on the Connecticut Sun) led in scoring that game with 31 points, but Rhyne Howard scored 24 of her own and has scored 20 or more in three of her first 4 games this season. I expect to see continued production from Howard and would look to betting her points over until further notice.
Unsurprisingly, the Aces are a perfect 4-0 SU to start this season, 3-1 ATS. Atlanta is 2-2 SU and ATS and also covered six of the last seven games vs the Aces that featured a double-digit spread. The Aces are clearly the better team, but one thing about this Dream team is – they’re fighters to the finish. (That said, you may get an even better live number on them in the first half.)
Atlanta Dream +11
Rhyne Howard OVER 18.5 Pts
Los Angeles Sparks at Phoenix Mercury -3, 163
The Sparks opened their season at home vs the Mercury and came away with the win and easy cover as 1.5-point favorites, 94-71. Both teams have only played three games so far this season, and so far the Sparks have looked like the better team. The Mercury haven’t played since last Thursday, a game they won and covered vs the Lynx. On the other side, the Sparks have had five days off since their home and home against the Aces, but they saw three players ruled out hours before their last game due to illness. Sparks Head Coach Curt Miller said all the players that were dealing with illness returned to practice on Thursday and that they were "trending in the right direction.” Hopefully, they can get their feet back under them sooner rather than later, as they are headed for a stretch of five games in 10 days. Typically, this matchup would send me towards an over, but without fully knowing the health of the Sparks roster I’ll hold off on this one.