The WNBA Finals Game 3 is on Wednesday, October 8 as the Las Vegas Aces make the trip to face the Phoenix Mercury, and this could be a classic. Las Vegas has taken care of business in the first two games, winning Game 1, 89-86, and pulling away late in Game 2, 91-78. A’ja Wilson has looked like an MVP, scoring with ease inside and drawing defenders on the perimeter. The Aces’ backcourt duo of Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum has also been a key, finding rhythm on the outside to drive the break and push the pace of play.

Now the series moves to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4, where the Mercury will try to keep their championship hopes alive in front of a pro-Mercury crowd. Brittney Griner and Kahleah Copper have handled the scoring in Games 1 and 2, but the Mercury will need role players to step up and cut down on the turnovers that set up Vegas for easy fast-break points early in Game 2. The Mercury have looked much better at home all postseason, and that energy and experience is likely to show in a do-or-die game environment.

 Size, inside play, and fan support should help Phoenix keep the game close late. My pick:  the Mercury will cover the spread as the Finals intensity ramps up in Game 3.

Jim's Play:  Phoenix Mercury 

Las Vegas enters this game with the clear edge in star power and depth. A’ja Wilson, the 4x MVP, has been dominant this season and carries the load in big moments. The Aces have also closed the regular season strong, riding a long winning streak at home and executing their systems with consistency. In recent playoff games, their bench and supporting cast (Jackie Young, Dana Evans, Chelsea Gray) have shown they can step up and relieve pressure when Wilson is locked in.

The Fever, on the other hand, have been battling through injury and roster instability. Their star, Caitlin Clark, is out for the season. Key rotational players have also missed significant time. Despite that, Indiana has surprised people with grit, Kelsey Mitchell has scored at a high level, and Aliyah Boston has delivered double-double performances in clutch games. In Game 4 of this series, Boston dropped 24 and 14, but that came in a loss for Indiana. (Las Vegas took that game 90–83.)

Matchup-wise, Las Vegas has the advantage in size, experience, and playmaking. Their defense can disrupt perimeter actions, and Wilson’s ability to dominate inside will force Indiana to collapse, which in turn opens up shooters. The Aces’ roster construction gives them more margin for error, if one part is off, there’s enough firepower elsewhere to compensate.

Unless Indiana finds a miracle spark or Las Vegas completely crumbles under expectation, I expect the Aces will win this one comfortably and cover the spread.

Jim's Play: 604. Aces

The Minnesota Lynx took Game 1 at home, dispatching the Mercury 82-69 on the back of their second-half dominance and the impactful contributions from Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Napheesa Collier, who combined for most of Minnesota’s damage. A little cageyness on adjustments from the bench helped them secure things late after a mostly-even first half. But the Mercury did enough early in the game to open a lead on the Lynx—to show aggression in the paint (led by Alyssa Thomas), and thus there’s reason to think they can tighten the screws and cover the spread in Game 2.

Minnesota heads into Game 2 with one significant injury absence (DiJonai Carrington out with a foot injury), which depletes Lynx’s bench depth and three-point/firepower. Phoenix, on the other hand, arrive at the game with a clean bill of health, which provides them just a bit of an edge in rotation flexibility. Copper, Sabally, and Thomas have already shown they can provide the scoring and force mismatch advantages on their own; if they’re able to share the ball well enough and if the rest of the cast shows up, Mercury has enough to keep this game closer than the oddsmakers think.

Defensively, both teams play sound basketball, which means there shouldn’t be a whole lot of runaway scoring. But Phoenix has proven itself a scrappy bunch, particularly when having to make halftime adjustments, something they’ll have to do this time around after getting outscored quite severely in Game 1’s second half. If the Mercury can find an early rhythm, stay patient, protect the ball, and make Minnesota make tough shots, they can keep it in reach. With the spread hovering around +7.5, that seems like a plausible outcome, and they’ll have the added motivation of not wanting to go down 0-2 in a best-of-five. All things considered, there are enough elements pointing towards Mercury covering.

Jim's Play: 613. Phx Mercury (WNBA Playoff Game of the Year)

The playoffs open in Atlanta with the Dream hosting the Indian Fever. The two franchises will compete in a best-of-three series, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. The Atlanta Dream won 30 games this year, ranking among the best records in the league, while the Indiana Fever finished the season at 24-20 to take home their playoff spot. They split their four regular season meetings, which could foreshadow a very competitive series.

Indiana heads into this series without Caitlin Clark and several other contributors who suffered season-ending injuries. They have been led by veterans like Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, who have shouldered a large portion of the offensive burden. Mitchell is shooting just over 20 points per game and has been a consistent scoring option, while Boston has dominated the interior on both ends with her rebounding, defense and ability to score inside. Indiana needs to find additional offensive balance to offset a deep Atlanta roster.

Atlanta has momentum heading into the playoffs and boasts a roster that features balance all around. The Dream are led by Allisha Gray, who nearly averages 18 points per game. Rhyne Howard is a dynamic perimeter scoring option, while their frontcourt, led by Brionna Jones and Naz Hillmon, should provide toughness on the interior and be able to hold their own against Boston. Atlanta has size, depth, positional defense, and three-point shooting, so they have a number of ways to win.

The balance of the Atlanta roster combined with its size, depth, and home court advantage should give the Dream the edge. It could be a close one, but Atlanta should be able to control this series.

Jim's Play: Take: 626. Dream

Everything is on the line for the Golden State Valkyries in their regular-season finale on the road in Minneapolis. Thursday’s winner will lock in at sixth seed in the WNBA playoffs; the loser is seeded eighth and would face a first-round rematch with the No. 1 seed Lynx. There’s a lot to play for, especially for Golden State. Minnesota, meanwhile, already has secured the top seed, and it’s possible that the Lynx come in with less of a “wow” factor.

Minnesota has a great record (33-10) and has played like a top seed at home. But the Valkyries are no joke. Golden State has made strong progress all season: securing a playoff spot, putting up several impressive offensive and defensive runs, and generally showing the ability to hang with, if not beat, better teams. It also played a tight game against the Lynx at home earlier in the year, losing 78-72, so they’re not overmatched and don’t wilt every time the ball is thrown up.

With this game having no meaning to Minnesota, they might have some players to rest; if Golden State plays with focus and it turns into a low-scoring game, that will help the Valkyries stay within range.

Off a close loss in their last game, Golden State could also have some momentum. While Golden State lost in Seattle, they forced turnovers, competed hard, and showed offensive flashes. Those are signs of scrappiness, which always helps in a must-win or must-cover situation. 

I think this sets up very well for the Valkyries to cover the spread with little meaning for the Lynx in this one. 

Jim's Play: 619. Valkyries

A top Minnesota Lynx team comes into Seattle for a battle of two contrasting styles of play. While the Lynx boast one of the best records in the WNBA (24-5) and are the class of the Western Conference, they’ve developed their success by playing the same way almost every night. The Storm (16-13) are fighting to return to relevancy in the conference standings while also bouncing back from a loss at home last game. Seattle is in a position to compete in the postseason, so they have everything to play for.

The Lynx come into this game shorthanded as forward Napheesa Collier is still not expected to return for this one. The injury to Collier is a massive blow to Minnesota as she is their best perimeter defender and one of their most productive scorers. Minnesota’s young core has all stepped up to a degree to replace Collier when she’s been out, but without her, they lack size inside against Seattle’s veteran group. The Lynx are still not out of the woods yet in terms of filling in for Collier as it appears they are just yet to face a team that their current core can’t play with. Minnesota has been one of the most resilient teams in the WNBA this season and they have not quit yet on any night despite this latest injury to Collier.

Seattle’s starting five of Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Erica Wheeler, and Ezi Magbegor have plenty of WNBA and international experience. The Storm also have a defensive identity and play a physical, gritty style that can counteract Minnesota’s talented, but young roster and small-ball lineups. The Storm have been one of the better home teams in the WNBA this season, but they came up short in their last game. Seattle could easily turn it on defensively in the first half of this one and with help from some role players make things tough on Minnesota.

I have my sights set on Seattle here as they are very familiar with playing with a defensive, grind-it-out identity against an athletic Minnesota roster and should match up well in that regard. The Lynx also lack any significant size or anchor inside, which could cause issues late in a close game. Expect this to be a close game decided by a few possessions in the fourth quarter. If Seattle can control the boards, this could be a 40-50 point game in terms of possessions. If Seattle can play high energy defensively and force Minnesota into tough shots while holding on the offensive glass, they should be able to protect home court and come out with a comfortable victory. 

Jim's Play: 614. Seattle Storm -2

The Valkyries and Aces are both fighting for playoff positioning in the congested middle of the standings. Golden State leads by half a game over the Aces, but this game could quickly reverse that.

The Aces got destroyed in a 111-58 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, one of the worst team losses in franchise history. That came just 24 hours after a tight win against the same Lynx team. Fatigue and a lack of confidence are both issues to consider heading into the second game of a back-to-back spot here on Sunday for the Aces.

Golden State started their most recent road trip getting smoked in a 95-64 loss against Connecticut. The team has since found a way to get the job done: an ugly 77-75 victory over Atlanta, followed by a 68-67 road win over Washington. The wins have come in clutch moments against tough competition without their star forward Kayla Thornton (out for season) and starting forward Monique Billings (ankle).

Golden State has been winning games on the contributions of their depth, with Zandalasini recently drilling a game-winner and Burton running the show in the backcourt. The Aces must find their offensive flow again, starting with Wilson inside.

Golden State has more momentum, rest, and recent clutch experience. The Aces back-to-back, combined with the blowout loss, could carry over into Sunday.

Jim's Play: 629. GS Valkyries 

The Los Angeles Sparks travel to Seattle for a Friday night Western Conference clash against the Storm that could be much closer than the line indicates. The hosts have been excellent at home this season and continue to get great offensive contributions from Jewell Loyd and inside play from Ezi Magbegor, but they have not been immune to spells of poor shooting when teams have been able to make them play the type of slower, more physical game they’ve wanted recently.

Los Angeles has been a good cover team as a road underdog despite their losing record, keeping games close with the combination of better rebounding and defensive effort, led by Dearica Hamby and a healthy dose of veteran grit. The Sparks are 4-2 against the spread in their last six trips from Crypto.com Arena, and have actually played Seattle pretty close in their last few meetings, losing by close margins or even winning outright. With Los Angeles’ defense playing much better lately and the Storm having a tendency to go cold offensively when under consistent defensive pressure, this has the look of a grind-it-out game that will stay within a few possessions throughout.

L.A. will battle wire to wire, control the tempo, and keep Seattle from pulling away. The play is on the visiting Sparks to cover the spread in a Western Conference showdown.

Jim's Play: 617. Sparks

Atlanta Dream enter Wednesday’s game at 15-11 and is currently favored by approximately 4 points over the Dallas Wings. However, there are some glaring danger signs here for road bettors. Atlanta is on the second night of a back-to-back while also still not having key contributor Rhyne Howard available. That combination of wear and inactivity doesn’t bode well for a team that’s coming off of a two-game losing skid and might not have freshness on both ends of the court. Meanwhile, Dallas is rested, at home, and coming into this one with some confidence from their recent victory over the Liberty. The Wings have gone 3-2 against the spread over their last five outings and have proven to be one of the more dependable plays in recent years when it comes to ATS play as home underdogs.

Dallas is playing with some traction right now behind the continued emergence of their frontline versatility, as well as some effective backcourt play from rookie Paige Bueckers and breakthrough sophomore Haley Jones. Jones has been on fire in recent games, averaging close to 12 points per game while also providing needed energy and playmaking for this team. With Jones and other players developing on the fly, their lineup has been able to gel at home. The Wings play harder and more cohesively on the interior of the ground than they did earlier in the season.

With the Dream likely to be tired, missing players, and Dallas playing with energy at home in addition to their recent ATS performance, this is a solid spread for the Wings. There will be plenty of physicality and this game will be close, but Dallas will use pace and effort to make this a dogfight from start to finish. 

Jim's Play: 606. Dal Wings 

The Indiana Fever will host the Phoenix Mercury here on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Fever have not had their star guard Caitlin Clark back in the lineup for a while and the team has shown little evidence of slowing down in her absence. Indiana came into the break on a two-game winning streak and went 4-3 ATS during that stretch. Two of those were very convincing road wins as double-digit underdogs, showing they could win games in various different ways.

Phoenix is a pretty overwhelming favorite with a near-full-strength roster, so a win seems likely from an expectation standpoint, but only having a slight edge over a resurgent Indiana team and a spread that is only around 3.5 seems like a match that could go down to the wire. Phoenix has a demonstrated history of inconsistency and bad losses against mismatched opponents at times in 2025 and Indiana still has enough collective talent around the young core to be a serious threat to that. Phoenix is not exactly priced up like a slam-dunk choice in this one either, and especially when you factor in that the Mercury also have a miserable recent track record ATS at this level against underdogs.

Indiana does offer value as a home underdog that has won all three home games in 2025 as an underdog and has the specific matchup intangibles of some recent ATS momentum. Indiana is an extremely live team without Caitlin Clark as well, and while they may not win, their young core is showing enough collective cohesiveness during this stretch to keep games close. The Fever are 12-12 and right in the playoff mix for now, so there’s a decent measure of mental toughness with this team to back up its current ATS streak as well. I see this as a much more competitive game than it initially appears on paper. 

Jim's Play: 602. Ind Fever

That the Minnesota Lynx are heavy favorites is understandable. They’re the best team in the WNBA with a 19-4 record and a +9.6 scoring margin, and they’re 1st in points scored (84.9) and 2nd in points allowed (75.3) . The problem for the smart money is that the Mercury aren’t chopped liver. Phoenix is 15-6 and 13-8 ATS, and they’ve covered 9 of their last 10 games, including 9 times when listed at +8.5 points. 

There are some other numbers that further validate this play. For starters, there’s the head-to-head split. The Mercury won their last meeting, 79–71 in Phoenix, and Minnesota has won 8 of the last 10 meetings overall. However, even when the Mercury lose, it’s often close. The underlying efficiency numbers say the Lynx should be able to win here, but that’s exactly the point. Phoenix can and likely will cover the spread. Phoenix is also coming off a three-game win streak, and they just narrowly escaped with a 78-77 win in Golden State on Monday.

Minnesota, of course, is a good team. But they don’t exactly obliterate their opponents on a regular enough basis that +8.5 ceases to be valuable. The Lynx have failed to cover -8.5 in 3 of their last 5 at home and in 11 of their last 20 such games. Add it all up, the Mercury’s propensity to keep games close, Minnesota’s record against Phoenix, and the Lynx’s recent inability to cover deep home spreads - and this looks like a smart bet despite an eventual Lynx win.

Jim's Play: Take: 607. Phx Mercury

On Monday, July 14th, 2025, the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky will face each other in the second of their two matchups in just three days. The teams will likely settle for a gritty, scrappy style that favors Chicago’s active, athletic play. Minnesota is riding one of the best records in the WNBA, but this is the same Sky team that they could not stop on Sunday, just two days ago. If you blinked, you might have missed this game, which was decided in the paint and down the stretch, by the size and energy of the Chicago players who repeatedly created second-chance opportunities and disrupted Minnesota’s offensive flow.

Chicago is rolling at home right now, as Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso have established themselves as the dominant force on the boards and Ariel Atkins continues to provide steady outside shooting. The Sky were confident in their last matchup and were able to control the game, dictate the pace, and match Minnesota’s physicality from tip to finish. Their energy and effort on both ends of the floor were the difference, and it’s that same formula that will give them a puncher’s chance in this contest again.

The Lynx still have an elite talent like Napheesa Collier and a tough defensive identity, but the Sky have the recent result and the momentum to make this game closer than expected. Chicago’s control of the paint and ability to create extra possessions are vital, especially if they can limit turnovers and hit enough outside shots to space the floor. Even if Minnesota edges out the victory, Chicago’s home-court energy and the matchup advantages on the inside give them value to keep this one close and cover the spread.

Jim's Play: Chicago Sky

Minnesota is sitting at 18-3 on the year and is still one of the leagues premier teams. Napheesa Collier is making her MVP argument a very real one, as she is currently averaging over 23 points, almost 8 rebounds, and is a true defensive anchor. The Lynx as a team play very smart, team-oriented basketball, and have the ability to hurt you on both ends. The Lynx currently rank in the top 3 in league in both assisted field-goal rate and defensive efficiency.

Chicago is 6-13, but also a very scary, improving team. A large reason for this has been the play of Angel Reese, who has seven straight double-doubles. Reese has made a name for herself as a consistent go-to scorer inside, as well as being very active on the glass. They also got Kamilla Cardoso back recently and have even more size and depth to bang down low in the paint. It has been good to see the Sky play up-tempo and play to their strengths even without some of their key veterans.

These two teams played recently on July 6 when the Sky had multiple early leads and out-rebounded the Lynx, but fell just short in the end, 75-70. Chicago did an excellent job limiting Minnesota’s three-point attempts, holding them to just 31% on the day. This will be another key, as the Sky will need to do a better job of keeping the game at the rim in order to keep this one close late.  We should still see another competitive game, but I just do not think you can lay the double-digits to this Chicago team. I’ll take the home dog on Saturday. 

Jim's Play: 618. Chic Sky 

Aces A’ja Wilson was lost in the early part of the week with a wrist injury and is questionable to play in this contest. The MVP candidate is one of the best two-way players in the game, capable of winning games on both ends of the floor with elite scoring, rebounding, and rim protection. If she can’t go or plays limited minutes, Jewell Loyd and the cast around her will have to be more aggressive and her absence would take away some of their paint dominance.

Washington is only a game below .500 and is finally finding its stride. The Mystics have been composed in close games and made a statement with their blowout win against Chicago on Sunday. Their big three of Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron have stepped up at the perfect time and team defense from Washington has improved with time. They are particularly good at defending the perimeter and should look to be more physical inside against a team that is not 100%.

Las Vegas is an incredibly dangerous team with the ability to explode for points at any time. But the Aces have been all over the place in the last few games, particularly on the defensive end, which can derail their chances if Wilson isn’t 100%. The Mystics have looked really good at home of late, especially since Christy Applegate came back. They have more balance offensively and won’t shy away from the paint. If the team can control the glass and outmuscle Las Vegas in the second half, then they are the team to play tonight. 

Jim's Play: 612. Was Mystics

Fresh off one of the most memorable first seasons in franchise history, the Golden State Valkyries are not quite sure how to explain what’s made them effective so far. Led by first-year coach Natalie Nakase, Golden State is a defensive juggernaut (No. 3 defensive rating, 97.8 and stingiest points per game in the WNBA with 77.5) that is at its best when setting the tone on that end of the floor, the reason they are 4-2 when winning by at least eight points and 5-6 in games decided by fewer than four. In that vein, Tiffany Hayes scored 23 points in their most recent game to continue proving why she’s one of the best veteran scorers off the bench in the league.

The Atlanta Dream are one of the tougher teams in the East at 11-7 and even tougher at home with a 7-3 record. They lead the WNBA in defensive rebounds (27.9 per game), and Brionna Jones is the best interior defender on a team with excellent depth up front. The Dream are much more potent on offense where they rank No. 4 in points per possession (106.1), led by their trio of Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Jones, who are coming off great seasons themselves and all average double-digits. Atlanta also defends, giving up 78.6 points per game and opponents shooting under 44 percent over the last 10 games.

This will be the first time the two sides have met in 2025 so there’s a little mystery to what happens on the court. We’ll find out in real time whether Golden State’s methodical, grind-it-out defense can withstand Atlanta’s well-rounded, aggressive frontcourt and home-court advantage, as it’s the classic contrast of styles. We can probably expect the Valkyries to run a deliberate pace, play consistently from stop to stop, and rely on Hayes and Kayla Thornton to come through down the stretch while the Dream crash the boards, attack the rim and feed the go-to scorers early in the shot clock.

I'm going to take the points with Golden State here on Monday and won't be surprised by a straight-up win by the Valkyries. 

Jim's Play: 621. GS Valkyries +6.5

Seattle is the underdog in Sunday’s game in New York, but this one has all the makings of a cover for the Storm. Seattle won Game 1 in Seattle on June 22 by 10 points, but they pulled off an outright win in that same game as underdogs. They’ve been good on the road recently, going 5-1 against the spread in their last six trips to New York and they have an overall ATS toughness, 10-8 in their last 18.

New York is one of the best home teams in the league, but the absence of Jonquel Jones is a big one; she’s their main interior presence. They’ll have Sabrina Ionescu back in the lineup and Leonie Fiebich will be coming off EuroBasket, but the Liberty have been very sloppy without Jones. Turnovers and lack of execution showed up once again in the opener at Barclays Center. Their ATS form is down too: they’re 0-4-1 in their last five. 

Seattle is the team with momentum coming in. They’ve won seven of their last ten, they rank second in the WNBA in field-goal percentage and three-point percentage, and their defense holds opponents to the low 80s. Their pace and efficiency should be a good counter to New York’s preferred fast tempo; history says these games usually go under, and that’s in Seattle’s favor as well.

The bet for the action here is a repeat of the Seattle win, but this time covering the spread. The Storm are growing in confidence, they’re sharp on the road and New York aren’t at full health or sharpness themselves. Expect Seattle to stay close throughout, then cover comfortably in a tight, well-executed game.

Jim's Play: 615. Seattle Storm

Saturday’s game at Target Center features the 15-2 Minnesota Lynx hosting the 9-7 Golden State Valkyries. Minnesota comes in as a powerhouse, leading the league with a dominant home record and the top offensive and defensive efficiency in the WNBA. Napheesa Collier is at the heart of their success, averaging nearly 25 points and routinely producing double-doubles. Meanwhile, Minnesota is unbeaten at home in regular season play and covered the spread in six of their last seven home games.

The Valkyries, meanwhile, have been one of the surprise stories of the season. As an expansion team, they’ve exceeded all expectations, winning seven of their last nine overall and four of five against the spread . They’re fresh off a statement 84-57 win over Seattle, where they locked down defensively (holding Seattle to just 27% shooting) and shot the ball efficiently. Coach Natalie Nakase is reintegrating key EuroBasket-returned players like Cecilia Zandalasini, Janelle Salaün, and Temi Fagbenle, aiming to blend recent chemistry with proven talent.

The spread is set at Minnesota –9.5, but I expect Golden State to cover. Minnesota enters as the clear favorite, with the firepower to pull away if they’re locked in, but Golden State has momentum, defensive prowess, and a track record of covering as hefty underdogs. If the Valkyries can sustain their defensive intensity and stay within single digits, they’ll cover the 9.5-point spread. Expect a tightly contested first three quarters with the gap closing late as Golden State presses.

Jim's Play: 613. Golden State Valkyries

The Las Vegas Aces (8-8) take on the Indiana Fever (8-8) today on Thursday, July 3. Oddly enough, two mediocre teams in the middle of the pack will battle it out for a chance to get better positioning Thursday evening. Both Indiana and Las Vegas enter at .500 with enough talent to suggest this won’t be a blowout. The Indiana Fever enter the game in a wave of momentum, having just won the Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday with a 74–59 win over Minnesota. Their defense was smothering as usual, holding the Lynx to just 39 points in three quarters, and Indiana earned a trophy for finishing first in the regular season. However, they are without their star rookie guard Caitlin Clark once again as her groin injury kept her out of this one, leaving Kelsey Mitchell to carry the offense, and she has been on fire recently. Mitchell is averaging just under 19 points a night and is coming off four consecutive games with 20 or more points.

The Aces of Las Vegas are also 8–8 but have the ingredients to surprise Indiana with their proven veteran point guard Jriel Taylor leading the way with an average of 17.2 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game and Rookie of the Year A’ja Wilson still wreaking havoc inside and on the defensive end. Wilson is averaging 21.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, just under 4 assists, almost 3 blocks, and nearly 2 steals per contest  and has been playing like an MVP so far this season. They recently made a trade to add more frontcourt depth in the form of NaLyssa Smith.

Indiana and Vegas have played each other a couple of times so far this year and it has not gone well for the Fever as they’ve lost five consecutive games, four of which went under and by the point spreads as well. Looks like Clark will have to miss this game with that lingering groin injury. Couple that with the comedown from their Cup win and this is a prime spot for a Vegas win and cover.

Jim's Play: 603. LV Aces 

The Minnesota Lynx will square off against the Indiana Fever for the Commissioner’s Cup tonight. Indiana (8–8) against Minnesota (14–2) for the Cup at the Target Center. Minnesota looks to defend it's Cup title while Indiana looks for its first. 

Minnesota is 14–2, including 8–0 at Target Center. The Lynx have the best point differential in the league at +11.2, and that’s with every team in the WNBA missing at least one game due to the Olympic break. The Lynx were also No. 2 in defensive rating (89.6) and assist percentage (66.4%) before the break. Indiana’s deep shooting could be the key, but the question is whether Fever star Caitlin Clark will be available. Clark is currently questionable with a groin injury but I have it on good sourse she won't be playing. 

Indiana and Minnesota are top three in 3-point percentage on offense, with Minnesota being first in the league (36.3%) and Indiana sixth (34.2%). But their defensive 3-point shooting percentages are also top three, with Minnesota holding opponents to the league-best 29% from deep and Indiana fifth (27.5%).

Minnesota’s offense is anchored by Napheesa Collier. She’s the league’s scoring leader at 24.4 PPG with elite shooting splits (52.5 FG%, 39.6 3PT%) and a dominant two-way game . Collier is also the favorite to win MVP.

Indiana, meanwhile, has played well when Caitlin Clark is on the court. She’s hurt for much of the past month, dealing with a groin strain and missing at least part of three games. Clark had 20 points in Saturday’s semifinal against Chicago. Indiana has still played well without Clark, winning by double digits in four out of five Cup games. Kelsey Mitchell poured in 32 points in the semifinal and Lexie Hull has also had big scoring games . And of course, there’s Aliyah Boston who’s averaging nearly 16 PPG and 8 RPG. The matchup to watch will be Collier and Boston.

If Clark misses some or all of this game then they will be in big trouble against this talented Minnesota team that is perfect at home. 

Jim's play: Minnesota Lynx

One of the more interesting games this weekend could take place Sunday, when the Seattle Storm will square off against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Seattle has been playing some high-level basketball as of late, with seven wins in its last nine contests, and the Storm are a bona fide offensive powerhouse. Gabby Williams is a two-way stud and already leads the WNBA in steals, but her perimeter shooting and playmaking is also a major asset. Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike provide veteran savvy that has fueled Seattle’s recent play, highlighted by a blowout victory over Connecticut later in the week. The Golden State Valkyries have been one of the pleasant surprises of the young WNBA season, as the expansion club is already 6-3 at home. Golden State already owns a victory over Seattle earlier in the month and are built for a home win on Sunday. Kayla Thornton has been a stalwart offensively for the Valkyries with consistent scoring and rebounding. Tiffany Hayes has come into her own as a smooth and effective veteran presence as well. The Valkyries also have a bit of a defensive identity which should allow them to slow down Seattle’s potent offense. The Storm are slight favorites, but this is shaping up as a close one, particularly with Golden State being so confident on their home court. I'll take the Valkyries on Sunday. 

Jim's Play: 630. GS Valkyries

Washington heads into Dallas on Saturday night riding a three-game win streak, looking to maintain some positive momentum after returning to .500 at 8-8. The Mystics have won three in a row, capped by an overtime win over these same Wings last weekend. In that game, rookie Sonia Citron scored 27 and made a three-pointer in the closing seconds to seal the deal. Washington has been playing well despite Brittney Sykes on the sidelines and a few other rotation players questionable, they’re able to find scoring from all around the roster and playing with more and more confidence. Dallas is 4-13 but has managed to show some signs of life following a 1-11 start. They’ve won two of their last three games, with freshman Paige Bueckers on fire and 6’7” center Li Yueru giving them some much-needed rim protection. They still have major injury issues though, missing multiple rotation players including Teaira McCowan and DiJonai Carrington. Washington has won the last four meetings in this series, but Dallas has more continuity and a deeper bench this season. Unless Bueckers goes off and Dallas dictates the pace, the Mystics should be able to extend their win streak.

Take:  619. Mystics 

The New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury will face each other Friday night in one of the more interesting games on the WNBA docket. These two played just over a week ago, with the Mercury picking up an 89-81 win on the road, and now they are at home. The Mercury come into tonight's contest with a six game win streak, an attempt to move to the front of the pack in the league standings. The Mercury have been cooking so far this season, scoring just over 82 points per game, while holding opponents to 78. The inside presence from Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas has been solid thus far, with Sabally leading the team in scoring at over 19 per night, and Thomas racking up the counting stats on both sides of the court.

On the other side, the Liberty enter the game at 11-3 but have some major injury concerns. Jonquel Jones will not play due to her ongoing ankle injury, and they will also be missing Leonie Fiebich and a couple key reserves as well, which means Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu will have to carry even more of the load than they have been. While they still have a lot of punch offensively, leading the league in both points and shooting efficiency, they will likely struggle defensively without Jones in the paint against Phoenix’s strong and physical frontcourt.

This game may come down to if the New York backcourt is able to run and make shots from the perimeter while avoiding foul trouble on defense. For the Mercury, they want to run the ball inside and continue to turn up the efficiency and execution we have seen from them of late. The Mercury are at home, have the form, the health, and the momentum, so the betting edge here goes to Phoenix as a small home favorite. 

Jim's Play: 616. Phx Mercury (WNBA Game of the Month)

On Wednesday night, the New York Liberty make their way to the West Coast to take on the Golden State Valkyries in a game that should be a lot of fun to watch. New York comes in at 10-3, but the Liberty have lost two of their last three, and two of their recent losses were to Phoenix (in a blowout) and Seattle (in a flat performance). The bigger issue for New York is the absence of Jonquel Jones, who will be sidelined for several weeks with an ankle injury. She leaves a hole in the paint that will put more burden on Breanna Stewart and New York’s bench to step up. Sabrina Ionescu continues to be the engine of the offense, and she’s been solid, but the Liberty will need some extra help from role players Natasha Cloud and Marine Johannès to maintain their offensive efficiency on the road in a tough environment.

Golden State comes in at 7-6 and is exceeding expectations as an expansion team. The Valkyries have been especially tough at home, posting a 5-2 record at Chase Center, and they’re coming off an 87-63 blowout of Connecticut. Kayla Thornton, a former Liberty forward, has been the catalyst for Golden State. She is physical on defense and a timely scorer. Temi Fágbénlé is their rebounding force, and head coach Natalie Nakase has embraced a defense-first identity that makes the Valkyries competitive even when their shots aren’t falling. They’ve been shooting under 40% from the field, but they make up for it with hustle, rebounding, and a deep rotation that’s giving strong minutes to young players like Bree Hall and Kaitlyn Chen.

I think this one will be a grind-it-out first game. This Liberty team isn’t the same juggernaut club without Jones, and the Golden State Valkyries have grit and motivation (not least of which is Thornton wanting to show her former team what she’s been able to do with more minutes). I'm going to take the points here tonight with the host and look for a close game. 

Jim's Play: 602. GS Valkyries 

L.A. is on the road at Chicago as a slight favorite, with most outlets having the Sparks anywhere from –5.5 to 6 early on . Despite a rough patch (they’re 3-game ATS losers and 5-9 against the spread overall), this is one matchup and personnel advantage they have tonight.

Chicago is really poor on both ends (12th in offensive and defensive efficiency), and they’re 1-4 at home this season. They’re missing some players up front, too, with Kamilla Cardoso (questionable) after a recent limited run and Angel Reese (beast on the boards) not shooting the ball efficiently. That’s an opening for the Sparks.

On the other side, L.A. has more consistent scoring punch in Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens and Rickea Jackson, and their veteran lineup is more than capable of exploiting Chicago’s defense. Plum, for one, averaged 20+ points and scored 28 in their last matchup.

Chicago’s defense is porous, their offense is stale, and L.A.’s perimeter punch and post depth should be enough to keep this one in control. Even if the Sky keep it close early, the Sparks should have enough distance on the by the final whistle.

Jim's Play: 625. Sparks

On Tuesday the Golden State Valkyries will travel to Arlington to face the Dallas Wings in their WNBA matchup. The Valkyries demonstrated strong development in their inaugural season with a balanced 5-5 standing after securing consecutive victories against veteran teams Seattle, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Kayla Thornton delivered an outstanding inside performance and effective defense held opponents to less than 41% shooting for the 76-70 win against the Storm.

The Golden State roster expanded with valuable depth prior to this match after acquiring Kaitlyn Chen and Chloe Bibby to replace players participating in EuroBasket. Paige Bueckers' previous acquaintance with Chen from their UConn era brings intrigue to the team while Bibby's global background will support the Valkyries' rotational stability.

In contrast, Dallas has struggled mightily. Dallas Wings have only one victory after 12 games and face a 11-game home defeat streak but they have had offensive highlights like Arike Ogunbowale scoring 26 points yet their defensive performance is weak because they allow almost 88.5 points per game. Dallas faces depth issues after losing Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder to EuroBasket and now having Maddy Siegrist injured with a leg problem .

That matchup is critical: The Warriors interior game led by Thornton’s double-digit rebounding totals should take advantage of Dallas’s diminished paint protection. The Valkyries' team identity which focuses on aggressive and adaptable defensive strategies started to emerge during Natalie Nakase’s first season as head coach.

The Valkyries are expected to establish control over the game's tempo from the beginning. They’ve demonstrated their ability to establish fast leads and maintain them yet the Wings have struggled with maintaining their composure when facing pressure at home.  Golden State’s extended bench depth will maintain rotational freshness while their strategy targets the Wings' depleted front line. 

Jim's Play: 621. Valkyries +3 (5 PT / 8 ET)

The Phoenix Sun head to Las Vegas in the best physical condition of their entire season. The team expects Kahleah Copper to return from knee surgery to join Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally who has been leading in both scoring and rebounding . Sabally's 20-point performance led the Mercury to a 93-80 victory against Dallas while their season rankings show them at eighth in shooting efficiency and within the top five for defensive performance.

Las Vegas secured an 88-84 victory against Dallas but their performance was inconsistent since MVP A’ja Wilson was absent due to concussion protocol. Jackie Young scored 28 points during that match while Jewell Loyd added 21 points to the scoreboard. The Las Vegas Aces experience defensive struggles which let opponents shoot over 47 percent and fail to control rebounds while their offensive output stays around the mid?80s each game.

A healthy Mercury team with good balance faces an Aces side missing their key player. Phoenix will take control in the fourth quarter if both Copper and Thomas perform well alongside Sabally's continued strong play. Las Vegas possesses skilled players in Young and Loyd yet must strengthen its defense and rebounding to maintain competitiveness in this game. 

I expect the Sun to run away with this contest as they are the healthiest they have been all season long.

Jim's Play: Phx Mercury

The Indiana Fever will play against the New York Liberty who remain unbeaten in the WNBA when they return home Saturday, June 14. Indiana will have a significant boost: After injury-induced absences, Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham will now return to the hardcourt. Clark missed five games due to a quad strain but returns with her league-leading stats of 19.0 points and 9.3 assists per game while playing a key role in Indiana's narrow 90-88 defeat against New York on May 24. Cunningham missed three games but practiced on Friday and appears prepared to contribute. The return of Clark and Cunningham resulted in Aari McDonald’s removal from the team but simultaneously enhanced roster depth and playmaking capabilities.

Still, the Fever have shortcomings: DeWanna Bonner continues to be out for personal reasons while the team shows signs of trouble with rebounds and interior defense stability. Indiana's record stands at 4-5 because they must improve their performance on both offense and defense fronts.

The Liberty team keeps pushing forward with unstoppable momentum. The New York Liberty maintain an undefeated 9-0 record while scoring approximately 90 points per game and keeping their opponents below 72 points. The team lost a tight 90-88 match to Indiana but has otherwise defeated opponents by at least ten points with several games reaching blowout margins of nearly 20 points. Breanna Stewart maintains her position as the leading offensive force by scoring roughly 19 points each game while Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud provide consistent playmaking abilities. Kennedy Burke has shown remarkable shooting ability from beyond the arc by successfully making over 63 percent of his three-point attempts.

Both teams strive for a Commissioner’s Cup spot which makes the stakes very high. Indiana’s depth returns but New York’s dominance is clear: The Liberty leads with an elite offense and stout defense while boosted by confidence from their recent victories. Liberty stands out as the favorites to keep their winning streak alive on Saturday . 

Jim's Play: 603. Liberty  

Tonight, the Golden State Valkyries will face the Phoenix Mercury at PHX Arena in a Commissioner's Cup matchup. The Valkyries, currently 2-4, are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Their offense has struggled, ranking last in the league with an average of 74.0 points per game and shooting percentages of 36.8% from the field and 27.5% from beyond the arc. However, they have been solid on the boards, averaging 36.0 rebounds per game, tied for fourth in the league. Key contributors include Kayla Thornton, who averages 12.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and Veronica Burton, who adds 12.0 points and 4.2 assists per game.  

The Phoenix Mercury, with a 5-3 record, are also coming off a loss but have been strong defensively, allowing just 76.9 points per game, third-best in the league. Their offense averages 77.9 points per game, with Satou Sabally leading the team at 20.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The Mercury are dealing with injuries to key players, including Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas, which may impact their performance.  

This game marks the first regular-season meeting between the two teams, following a preseason matchup won by the Valkyries. Both teams are looking to gain momentum in the Commissioner's Cup standings, with the Mercury currently at 1-0 and the Valkyries at 0-1 in Cup play.

Jim's Play: 603. GS Valkyries +6.5

The undefeated Minnesota Lynx (5-0) will play against the Phoenix Mercury (4-1) tonight at PHX Arena starting at 10:00 p.m. ET on ION.

The Lynx have shown strong performance throughout this season with forward Napheesa Collier leading the charge by averaging 26.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in each game. The Minnesota Lynx offense stands as the second-ranked team in the league with an average score of 86.2 points per game from a 47% shooting percentage which includes 35.4% accuracy from three-point range. The team has a formidable defense that limits opponents to 77.4 points per game. The Lynx won their latest game against the Seattle Storm with a final score of 82-77 while Courtney Williams gathered 23 points and Collier reached a double-double by scoring 16 points and pulling in 10 rebounds.

The Mercury aim to keep their flawless home game streak going. The Mercury leads the league defensively by giving up just 74.6 points per game. Phoenix's offensive production totals 80.4 points each game through Satou Sabally's average of 19.8 points and 7.4 rebounds coupled with Alyssa Thomas who brings in 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. Phoenix Mercury won their latest match against the Chicago Sky by overcoming a 16-point deficit to end with a score of 94-89 thanks to Sabally's 20 points and rookie Kitija Laksa's season-best 18 points.

Tonight's game could be impacted by player injuries. Guard Kahleah Copper and forward Natasha Mack will not play for the Mercury. Forward N.Collier (knee) is questionable for the Lynx and if she misses that will be a big loss for the team. 

The way Phoneix plays at home coupled with their excellent defense should keep them close in this game with a good chance to get the upset win and give the Lynx their first loss. 

Jim's Play: 616. Phx Mercury +4

The Atlanta Dream and Seattle Storm face off tonight at Climate Pledge Arena with distinct team capabilities and opposing performance trends.

The Dream enters this contest with momentum from a three-game winning streak that takes their record to 4-2. The Dream scores powerfully with an average of 84.5 points per game making them the fourth highest-scoring team in the league. Allisha Gray plays a crucial role for her team by averaging 20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while maintaining a shooting percentage of 48.7% from the field and 42.5% from three-point range. Atlanta's interior strength has improved with Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones joining the team which has resulted in strong rebounding performance including third-place defensive rebound percentage at 79.6%.

The Storm have won three games and lost two but remains unbeaten at home this season. The Storm's defensive performance stands as a key strength by permitting only 77 points per game which puts them third in WNBA defensive rankings. The team scores 79 points per game on average with both Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike delivering 19 points per game. Seattle Storm's home defense stands out with a powerful +27 point differential across two games.

Brittney Griner from Atlanta is currently day-to-day with injuries and Jordin Canada remains sidelined. The Seattle Storm will be without Katie Lou Samuelson for the entire season after she tore her ACL.

The matchup between Atlanta's improved offense and Seattle's strong home defense is set to be a closely fought contest. 

I'll take the hosts in this one tonight. 

Jim's Play: 612. Sea Storm -5.5

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., the Indiana Fever will play the Washington Mystics at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore. The change from Capital One Arena to a new venue has been necessitated by ongoing renovations and the expected increase in crowd numbers. The Fever must play without Caitlin Clark who has been sidelined due to a left quadriceps strain that will keep her out for a minimum of two weeks.

Indiana faces major challenges without Caitlin Clark because she tops the league in assists and ranks eighth in scoring. However, this is a talented Indiana team that has lots of depth.  The Fever expects top players Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell to take on bigger roles. Boston has controlled the paint with strong averages of 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds each game and Kelsey Mitchell needs to step up in scoring and playmaking.

The Mystics are trying to end their run of three consecutive defeats. The team maintained late-game leads during their losses but failed to secure victories in those matches. The rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have stood out with meaningful performances during their first seasons. The team must manage their roster issues as Georgia Amoore sits out from a knee injury and Shakira Austin remains questionable following a concussion.

The two teams aim to build momentum during the early part of the season. Without Clark the Fever must adapt their offensive strategies while increasing their dependence on Boston's inside play and Mitchell's outside shots. The Mystics will use their home-court advantage to take advantage of any changes the Fever need to make. Even without Clark I still believe the Fever have the talent and depth to win and cover here tonight. 

Jim's Play: 601. Fever -2.5

The Seattle Storm will face the Minnesota Lynx at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. This early-season matchup features two of the WNBA's top teams: The Minnesota Lynx entered the matchup with a perfect 4–0 record while the Seattle Storm approached the game following three consecutive wins to reach a 3–1 season record.

The Lynx maintain their dominant start to the season with Napheesa Collier leading the way as she scores an average of 29.5 points per game. Minnesota ranks third in league scoring with an average of 87.3 points per game while maintaining solid defensive performance by permitting opponents 77.5 points per game. The success the team has achieved early in the season stems from their evenly distributed offensive approach combined with strong rebounding efforts.

Seattle recently defeated the Las Vegas Aces with a decisive 102–82 win. Nneka Ogwumike put up 23 points and eight rebounds as Skylar Diggins-Smith added 19 points and eight assists. The Storm has demonstrated strong defensive capabilities with their opponents scoring only 76.0 points per game which ranks second in the league.

This matchup may be influenced by injuries to key players. Seattle's Katie Lou Samuelson will miss the game because of a knee injury while Lynx guard Kayla McBride has been upgraded to probable with personal reasons.

Expect a competitive showdown between two leading teams in the league.

Jim's Play: 630. Min Lynx 

The Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream face off this Saturday, May 24, at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, with tipoff set for 3:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT).

The Wings search for their first victory after a 0-3 start to the season. Though they began slowly, the team displayed progress in their close 85-81 defeat against the Minnesota Lynx. In that game Paige Bueckers achieved her first career double-double with her performance of 12 points and 10 assists while Arike Ogunbowale scored the most points for her team with 21 points.

The Dream suffered a defeat against the Indiana Fever with a final score of 81-76 leaving them at 1-2 in the standings. Rhyne Howard scored 24 points to lead the Dream in their recent match. Head coach Karl Smesko has introduced a new system to the Dream that prioritizes perimeter shooting and spacing.

The match offers a captivating study of two teams seeking to define their early-season identities while undergoing transitions. I like the the Dream here on Saturday to take this matchup. 

Take: Atl Dream

On Friday, May 16 the WNBA's 2025 season begins with a significant game when the Los Angeles Sparks play against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. The Valkyries make their first regular-season appearance in this game which brings professional women's basketball back to the Bay Area for the first time since the Sacramento Monarchs folded in 2009 .

The Sparks begin their season with both a new roster and revitalized goals. Los Angeles undertook major organizational changes after ending 2024 with the league's poorest performance record by hiring Lynne Roberts as their new head coach from her position at the University of Utah. The team added three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to their roster with the goal of strengthening their backcourt presence while reuniting with standout Dearica Hamby who produced 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season. Rickea Jackson who was chosen for the 2024 All-Rookie Team will play an essential role in leading the team's comeback.

The WNBA's newest team since 2008 Golden State has built substantial anticipation ahead of their first game. Community support for the Valkyries has been demonstrated through their sale of more than 10,000 season tickets. The WNBA's first Asian American head coach Natalie Nakase manages a team with experienced guard Tiffany Hayes who received the 2024 Sixth Woman of the Year award and forward Kayla Thornton who won a championship with the New York Liberty last season. Despite being newcomers, the team showed signs of future competitiveness in their preseason when they suffered a close game defeat by the Sparks with a score of 83-82.

The debut matchup between these two teams gives insight into how the WNBA continues to develop as they both work to define their team identities. The Sparks aim to overcome their difficult past season as the Valkyries attempt to impress their local fans during their debut game.

Take: 605. Sparks

It's game five of the WNBA Finals and it's winner take all here today for the Championship between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty. The Lynx, led by Napheesa Collier, who has been averaging 23.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game during the Finals, are known for their resilience and efficient playmaking. They have capitalized on turnovers and maintained steady defensive pressure. Collier has been instrumental in their wins, providing consistent scoring and defensive prowess. Additionally, the Lynx's success has hinged on strong ball movement, as they have averaged 21.6 assists per game in the series. On the other hand, the Liberty, anchored by MVP Breanna Stewart, have used their depth and versatile offense to stay competitive. Stewart, with an average of 20.0 points and 8.8 rebounds, has been a key figure on both ends of the court. The Liberty's defense has also been a crucial factor, forcing the Lynx into high turnover counts, including a dominant defensive showing in Game 2 where they forced 20 turnovers. New York has also been excellent on the boards, regularly outrebounding Minnesota and excelling in second-chance points. New York has the talent and home court advantage. However, the Lynx have been the scrappy bunch in these playoffs and have experience and Championships on their side. I will take the Lynx plus the points in this final game of the WNBA Championship.

 As the New York Liberty lead the WNBA Finals 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Friday, October 18, 2024, against the Minnesota Lynx, the stakes are incredibly high for both teams. New York is just one win away from capturing their first WNBA championship, while Minnesota must win to force a decisive Game 5. The Liberty's depth and versatility have been instrumental throughout the series. Breanna Stewart has been outstanding, consistently leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Her ability to score inside and stretch the floor with her shooting has made it difficult for Minnesota's defense to focus solely on stopping Sabrina Ionescu. Jonquel Jones' presence in the paint has been equally crucial. She leads the team in rebounding and provides a steady defensive presence. For Minnesota, this is a must-win situation. They won the first game of the series in dramatic fashion, overcoming an 18-point deficit in overtime, but struggled in Games 2 and 3 as New York's defense tightened up. The Lynx's biggest strength lies in their three-point shooting, led by Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton, both of whom were instrumental in their earlier win. The Liberty have the momentum, and their deep roster gives them an edge. However, Minnesota's resilience cannot be discounted, and their home-court advantage will give them a big boost. I'm going to take the points at home on Friday with the Lynx.

The WNBA Finals Game 3 matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty on October 16, 2024, promises to be pivotal in the series. The series is currently tied 1-1, with Minnesota pulling off a remarkable comeback in Game 1, overcoming an 18-point deficit to win 95-93 in overtime. Napheesa Collier's clutch performance was key, alongside Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. The Liberty bounced back in Game 2 with an 80-66 win, thanks to Breanna Stewart's strong play. Expect Game 3 to be highly competitive. This one looks to be another close game, but I give the edge to Minnesota here as they hold home court. They have already proved that they can come back from big deficits. Take Minnesota. 

The WNBA Finals matchup between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx promises to be an exciting contest between the two best WNBA teams. The Liberty, led by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, finished the regular season with a league-best 32-8 record. They dominated the playoffs, defeating the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals to reach their second consecutive Finals appearance. The Liberty are still seeking their first-ever WNBA title, despite being one of the original WNBA franchises. On the other hand, the Minnesota Lynx, with a strong playoff performance, reached the Finals after a thrilling five-game series against the Connecticut Sun. The Lynx, spearheaded by Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, are aiming for a record-breaking fifth championship, having already won four titles between 2011 and 2017. Despite being the No. 2 seed, the Lynx defeated the Liberty in three of their four regular-season matchups, including the Commissioner's Cup. The Liberty have more firepower on offense, the Lynx have the better defense plus all those WNBA Titles and playoff experience. This will come down to which team can impose their will, the Liberty and their high-octane offense or the Lynx and the stifling defense. For me, six points on the dog that plays great defense is too much to pass on. Take Minnesota. 

 For the WNBA Semifinals matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun on October 6, 2024, the Lynx are in a strong position, leading the series 2-1 and needing just one more win to advance to the Finals. The Lynx have been the highest-scoring team in the semifinals, averaging 88.0 points per game, with Napheesa Collier leading the charge, averaging over 26 points per game in the postseason. Their offense is supported by perimeter shooters like Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton, making Minnesota a potent threat from beyond the arc. On the other side, the Connecticut Sun are in a must-win situation. Despite a balanced offensive roster featuring players like Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones, Connecticut has struggled to find a consistent go-to scorer late in games. Marina Mabrey has been the Sun's top scorer in the postseason, averaging 18.6 points per game, but their defense-first strategy, allowing just 77.4 points per game, has not been able to slow down Minnesota's high-paced attack. I don't count out the Sun at home with such a good defense. They need to do better then last time and I fully expect it here on Sunday. I'll take the Sun to even the series.

The highly anticipated WNBA semifinal matchup between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces on October 6, 2024, will be pivotal as the Liberty lead the series 2-1. The Liberty have been one of the top teams this season, boasting a 36-10 record. With star performances from MVP-candidate Breanna Stewart and dynamic guard Sabrina Ionescu, they are averaging 85.7 points per game. The Aces, defending champions, are not far behind with a 30-15 record. A'ja Wilson leads their charge, but they must overcome their Game 3 loss to stay alive in this do-or-die contest. Both teams have elite offenses, making this matchup a high-stakes thriller. The Aces won't go down easily as I expect them to have a great game here on Sunday. The defending champions will tie this series up on Sunday. Play Las Vegas.

The Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun face off in Game 3 of their WNBA semifinals series on Friday, October 4, 2024. The series is tied 1-1, making this a crucial matchup. The Lynx have shown strong offensive output in the postseason, ranking second in scoring with 87.5 points per game. They also boast a dynamic perimeter offense, with Bridget Carleton leading from beyond the arc. Napheesa Collier remains a key player for Minnesota, but she struggled in Game 2, scoring only nine points, and the Lynx will need her to step up to overcome Connecticut's defensive pressure. On the other hand, the Sun rely heavily on their defense, which was the best in the regular season and has carried into the playoffs, allowing just 74.3 points per game. Their star, Alyssa Thomas, continues to excel with all-around contributions, averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game in the postseason. Marina Mabrey has been a standout, especially from deep, averaging 19.8 points and 4.0 made three-pointers per game. Connecticut's ability to slow down Collier and their defensive intensity will be crucial factors in Game 3. Connecticut is slightly favored due to their top-tier defense and ability to control the pace. I expect a tight contest with two exceptional teams. I do like defense in the postseason and the Sun have that at its best. I'll take the Sun with this short line on Friday. Play Connecticut.

This best of five playoff series between the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx has the Lynx down 0-1 after their 70-73 loss to the Sun in game one. The Sun, led by veteran stars like Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, have been consistent all season with their disciplined defense and efficient offense. Connecticut's versatility and balanced scoring have made them one of the top teams in the league. Minnesota, on the other hand, has relied heavily on Napheesa Collier's leadership and performance. While the Lynx had moments of inconsistency throughout the season, they've shown resilience and tenacity in big games. They will need that here in game two as they cannot lose the first two games at home and hope to win this series. The Sun have one of the best defenses in the league, which could be crucial in limiting Collier's impact. If the Lynx can slow the game and minimize turnovers, they could stay competitive. I expect Minnesota to put forth a great effort here on Tuesday in an effort to avoid the 0-2 mark and going back to Connecticut facing elimination. This is a must win spot for the Lynx and I'll take them to even the series. Play Minnesota.

The Indiana Fever face off against the Connecticut Sun in a pivotal contest on Wednesday with the Fever facing elimination in this best of three series. The Connecticut Sun have been one of the stronger teams in the WNBA this season, consistently contending at the top of the standings, while the Fever have been working through a rebuilding phase. However, betting analysis hinges on whether Indiana can cover the spread rather than outright winning, which provides a more nuanced outlook. The Sun have been a top-tier defensive team, allowing some of the fewest points per game (PPG) while scoring efficiently. They've been led by stars like Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, who have been impactful on both ends of the floor. The Fever have improved over their disappointing 2023 season. Rookie stars like Aliyah Boston have shown promise, and the development of Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith has boosted their offense. Caitlin Clark just garnered her Rookie of the Year award and did suffer an injured eye in game one but will play here today. Indiana has shown that they can stay within single-digit deficits against top teams, particularly if Boston can dominate the paint and the Fever's outside shooting (via Kelsey Mitchell) can create separation from Connecticut's defenders. Indiana will need their shooting to come back in this game and Clark to step up her game after a tough opener. I look for the Fever to cover here tonight in game two.

A pair of playoff bound teams meet here on Wednesday as the Indiana Fever host the defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces.  The Aces, led by MVP contender A'ja Wilson, are sitting at 22-13, while the Fever, featuring rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, are 19-17 and both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. Las Vegas has struggled slightly in recent games, particularly offensively, averaging 81 points per game in their last three outings. They are coming off a 75-71 loss to the New York Liberty, where their typically potent offense underperformed. Despite this, the Aces boast the league's top-ranked offense overall, with Wilson averaging a league-best 27.3 points per game. Indiana, meanwhile, has been on an offensive tear, averaging 97 points per game over their last five. Clark, who is averaging 19.2 points and 8.5 assists per game, has led the Fever alongside Aliyah Boston, who recently put up a monster 30-point, 13-rebound performance. However, the Fever's defense has been shaky, giving up 87.3 points per game, which ranks near the bottom of the league. Both teams are strong from beyond the arc, with Indiana shooting 35.2% and Las Vegas 34.9% from three-point range. The Fever's improved offense, combined with their home-court advantage, has them looking to upset the defending champions in what could be a high-scoring contest?. I'll take the Fever here on Wednesday. 

 The WNBA matchup between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday features the 2nd place Sun vs the 5th place Storm. Both teams have already secured playoff spots. The Sun are 2.5 games back of first place NY Liberty for the top spot and a half game ahead of 3rd place Minnesota. The Connecticut Sun are known for their strong defense and balanced scoring. They have consistently been a playoff contender and are looking to solidify their position in the standings as the regular season winds down. The Sun are particularly tough at home, where their disciplined play and deep roster give them an edge over most opponents. The Storm are one game back of the LV Aces for 4th place in the standings but a comfortable 2.5 games ahead of 6th place Indiana. Both teams are good defensively, but the Sun are the top defensive team in the league and I look for that to be the key here today as they shut down the Storm. Play Connecticut.

WNBA matchup here on Friday between the Atlanta Dream and defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces. The Aces, led by MVP candidate A'ja Wilson, are looking to bounce back from a recent slump. The Aces have dropped to fifth in the WNBA standings with a 18-12 record. However, they are coming off a loss at Dallas, 90-93 and have lost three of their last four games and five of their last seven games. Despite their offensive struggles, they remain a strong team with solid contributions from Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. The Dream, plagued by injuries throughout the season, are fighting to stay in playoff contention. Atlanta has lost three straight games and are 3-7 their last 10 games. They have dropped to 9th in the WNBA standings, one game back of Chicago for that final playoff spot. These are two teams struggling. Vegas laying a lot of points here on Friday and for me I'll take those points with Atlanta even though they likely will lose outright. Play Atlanta.

The Seattle Storm and Washington Mystics face off today in the WNBA. The Storm are 5th in the WNBA standings with a +5.5 point differential. They have also won six of their last 10 games. The Washington Mystics are tied for last in the WNBA with the LA Sparks at 6-21. The Mystics have a -5.2 point differential and have lost their last four games and eight of their last 10 games. The Storm will try to snap their two game losing skid since returning from the Olympic break. They are coming off a loss to the Indiana Fever, 75-92. The Mystics have dropped four straight and allow a whopping 90.8 ppg during this four game losing streak, up from their season average of 84.2 ppg. The last time these clubs met back on May 25th the Storm trounced the Mystics, 101-69. The Storm are in need of a win and this Mystics club looks like the team that will provide it. I'm taking Seattle here against a very bad Washington defense.

 First week back for the WNBA after nearly a month off for the Olympics. We have the Seattle Storm at 17-9 with a +6.4 point differential. Storm are fourth overall in the WNBA Standings. The Storm are coming off a loss at Atlanta in their first game back, 81-83. Indiana came out fast and furious in its first game back, running wire-to-wire in their win over Phoenix, 98-89. The Fever are 7th in the WNBA standings with a 12-15 record and -4.9 point differential. Seattle is third in the league in scoring with a 84.2 ppg average. They are also 4th in scoring defense as they allow 77.8 ppg. Indiana won its third game in the last four. They led by 17 over Phoenix at the half. They are 5th in scoring offense with a 82.4 ppg average. Indiana seems to be playing well out of the break with rookie Caitlin Clark developing into a excellent leader on the court. Fever are a small home dog here on Sunday and I'll be taking those points. Play Indiana.

The WNBA returns from their Olympic break as Washington Mystics take on the Minnesota Lynx tonight. The Lynx are 3rd in the WNBA with a 17-8 record and +6.2 point differential. The Washington Mystics have had a terrible start to their season but have played better in recent weeks before the break. They are 6-19 and tied for last in the WNBA. This will be the first game of a two game series between these clubs with the next meeting on Saturday. The break allowed teams to get healthy and both teams will be at full capacity tonight. The Lynx Cheryl Reeve was the head coach for the women's Olympic team as they returned with the Gold Medal. The Lynx will finish the regular season with nine of their final 15 on the road and against teams with winning record. Washington is a decent dog here tonight and with everyone having had time off you have to feel it will take a few games for the players and coaches to get back into the flow. I'm taking the points in this one with Washington.

The Chicago Sky have lost two straight games but still won five their last 10 games to climb into the final playoff spot in the WNBA with a 9-14 overall record. The Sky average 78.7 ppg while allowing 81 ppg for a -2.3 point differential. The defending WNBA Champion Aces are not having as successful a season as in the past few years but still are in 3rd overall with a 16-7 record. They are 3.5 games back of first place NY Liberty. The Aces average 88.9 ppg while allowing 82.6 ppg for a +6.3 point differential. This will be the final game for both teams before the WNBA ALL-Star break. This will also be the 2nd meeting of the season between the teams with the Aces having won the first meeting by 12 points in Chicago. Chicago will have rookie Angel Reese as their only representative at the All-Star game. She leads the league in rebounding with a 12.0 rpg average. Reese also averages 13.5 points per game and her streak of 16 consecutive double doubles came to end in her last game. The Aces are led by A'ja Wilson's 27.2 ppg and 11.2 rebounders per game. The Aces have four players going to the All-Star game. Aces shouldn't have any issues getting the "W" here on Tuesday. However, 13 points or thereabout might be a bit high. I'll take the points and look for Chicago to slide in under the number. 

Early action here on Tuesday in the WNBA slate has the Phoenix Mercury playing at the Washington Mystics. The Phoenix Mercury are in 6th place in the WNBA standings with a 12-12 record. They have lost two straight games and have a -2.5 run differential. The Mystics average 83.3 ppg while allowing 85.8 ppg. The Washington Mystics are 5-18 on the season with a -4.3 point differential. They average 79 ppg and allow 83.3 ppg. The Mystics have split their last two games, losing to Las Vegas last time out 89-77 and winning the game before at Indiana, 89-84. They are led by Ariel Atkins who averages 15.9 ppg. The Mercury had a three-game win streak and now they have lost two straight. The Mercury looks to have turned things around when they won three games in a row and maybe even a dark horse. They have come back down to earth now and here they are laying points at Washington. The Mystics have the offensive power to stay with this poor Mercury defensive team. I'll take the points in this early game on Tuesday. Play Washington.

The Phoenix Mercury take on the Indiana Fever here on Friday. The Mercury are in 6th place overall in the WNBA with a 12-10 record and have won three straight games. They also have a -1.1 point differential. The Indiana Fever are just barely holding onto that 8th and final playoff spot with their 9-14 record. They lead 9th place Atlanta by just one game. They also have a -6.6 point differential. This will be the second meeting between these teams since June 30th when the Fever upset the Mercury in Phoenix, 88-82. The Mercury are 3rd in the league in shooting but their defense is not good as the are 9th in scoring defense. The Fever are led by rookie sensation Caitlin Clark who is averaging 16.7 ppg and also leads the team in assists with 7.6 per game. Indiana is 7th in scoring this season and fourth in 3-point field goals. Clark's assist leading on this team has gotten her team mates much more involved and has led to a resurgence by the Fever as they are 5-5 their last 10 games. The Mercury will likely be without Guard Diana Taurasi tonight. I'm taking the Fever in this rematch tonight.

 Early schedule today in thee WNBA and this is one of the later afternoon games as the Dallas Wings face the Seattle Storm. The Wings are tied for last in the WNBA with the Mystics and Sparks with a 5-17 record. All three teams are four games back of the Chicago Sky for that final playoff spot. The Mercury are 6th with a 11-10 record and -1.9 point differential. The Wings have split their last two games, beating Atlanta 85-82 and then losing their lats game to Las Vegas, 85-104. They are led by Arike Ogunbowale who averages 23.1 ppg on the season. The Mercury bring a two game win streak into today's contest with wins over the LA Sparks, 84-78 and this Dallas club, 104-96. Neither of these teams are very good on the defensive side of the ball. And with Phoenix just covering vs the Dallas team a few games ago, I look for the Wings to rebound here today and get the cover. Play Dallas.

Two of the bottom teams in the WNBA meet here today as the LA Sparks host the Washington Mystics. The Sparks are 4-14 and in 10th place in the standings. The Sparks have lost seven straight games and have the second worst point differential in the WNBA with a -7.5 mark. The Mystics are 4-15, a half game back of the Sparks and in 11th place. They have a -3.7 point differential. Even though the Mystics have lost two straight to two of the better WNBA teams, they covered both of those games. And, before that they won four out of their last five games. So the Mystics have definitely been playing better of late. Can't say the same for the Sparks. They have lost their last three games by a margin of at least 10-points and their last five by at least nine points. Yet, here tonight they are a small home favorite to the Mystics. I'm sticking with the Mystics in this one as they have shown me much more of late and have done all their winning in the last seven games. Take Washington.

The two-time defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces have struggled a bit this year, at least for them. They are 9-6 and have just a +3.2 point differential. They average 87.7 ppg while allowing 84.5 ppg. They will face the last place Washington Mystics. The Mystics are 4-14, but find themselves just three games back of the last playoff spot at this point. They also have a -3.3 point differential. The Mystics have played much better of late. They have won four of their last six games and covered five of those games. Las Vegas is coming off a win over Chicago in their last game, 95-83, covering the 10.5-point line. Meanwhile, Washington lost to the Connecticut Sun in OT, 91-94. The Aces are 2nd in the WNBA in scoring but 8th in the league in defense. Washington lost its first 12 games this season but has come on strong of late. They are a double digit home dog here today and I look for them to stay close to the Aces. Play Washington.

Commissioner's Cup on the Line today as the top two statistical teams meet up as the NY Liberty take on the Minnesota Lynx. Each player on the winning team gets $20k each, which in the WNBA is a large amount of incentive to win this game. The Liberty won this Cup in 20203. The NY Liberty come in with the best record in the WNBA at 15-3. The Minnesota Lynx are tied for second with a 13-3 record. The Liberty average 88.1 ppg while allowing 78.4 ppg for a +9.7 point differential. The Lynx average 84.5 ppg while allowing 73.8 ppg for a league best +10.7 point differential. This game features the best team in the East Conference vs the best team in the West. Minnesota has the third best scoring offense in the league and are first in field goal percentage and first in 3-point shooting. The Lynx are also 2nd in the league in defense. The Liberty will be playing their fourth game in the last six nights and that could play a factor here tonight. The Liberty league the league in scoring and are third in defense. The Lynx won the other matchup between these teams this year, 84-67. The Lynx, which are 1st in 3-point defense, held the Liberty to just 7-of-29 from the 3-point arc in that win. I also give the edge here tonight to the Minnesota bench. Big test here for the Lynx tonight. I like the points though and will take them. Play Minnesota.

The Connecticut Sun sit atop the WNBA standings with their 13-2 record. They are coming off only their second loss, that coming at defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas, 74-85. They will face Seattle Storm here today for the first time this season. The Sun are a very small road dog in this one. The Sun average 80.5 ppg while allowing 71.7 ppg for a +8.8 point differential. They will face a 9-6 Seattle Storm here today that sits in fourth in the WNBA, 4.5-games back of the Sun. The Storm have actually lost two straight games. They lost at Phoenix, 78-87, and then lost at Las Vegas, 83-94. They return home here today where they are 4-1 on the season. They average 83.1 ppg while allowing 79.7 ppg for a +3.4 point differential. I'm sticking with the Sun here today as they look to make up for that dismal performance at Vegas in their last game. Take Connecticut.

Saturday WNBA action has a trio of games on tap and today I'm focusing on the Dallas Wings vs the Washington Mystics. These are the two worst teams in the WNBA with the Dallas Wings at 3-11 overall and the Mystics coming in at 2-13. The Wings are 2-6 on the road while the Mystics are 1-5 at home. Washington has a -6.2 point differential and the Wings come in at -5.9. Dallas brings a nine-game losing streak into today's contest at Washington. Yet, the Wings are still a small road favorite. This is a back-to-back spot as the teams will meet again on Sunday. Dallas also got bad news as Maddy Siegrist (14.6 ppg) will be out indefinitely with a broken finger. They will also be without starting center Kalani Brown. The Wings defense ranks 11th with a 86 ppg average. Washington started the season 0-12 and while they are the worst team in the WNBA right now, they won back-to-back games here recently. With injuries for the Wings I'm not sure how they are favored on the road here today. I'm taking Washington who has been playing with much more confidence of late.

Great matchup here tonight on the hard wood as this year's best team so far, the Connecticut Sun, take on the two-time defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces. The Sun are 13-1 and have won four straight after their lone loss of the season. They are 5-0 on thee road and have an overall +10.2 point differential. The LV Aces have struggled out of the gate, at least for them. They are 7-6 and have just a +1.9 point differential. They did however get back Chelsea Gray last game though she is being eased back into the lineup after a long injury absence. The Sun have the best defense in the WNBA, holding opponents to just 70.7 ppg. They are led by DeWanna Bonner, who averages 17.5 ppg and 6.1 rebounds per game. The LV Aces have the top ranked scoring team in the WNBA with a 87.4 ppg average. However, they defense has allowed 85.5 ppg, ranking them ninth in the league. Vegas is just 4-9 ATS on the season while the Sun are 7-7. Should be a great game tonight but I will take the points with the Sun as they look the better option as they can win this game outright. Play Connecticut.

The Seattle Storm travel to Phoenix today to take on the Mercury. The Storm are having a fine season as they are in 4th overall in the WNBA standings with a 9-4 record. They average 83.5 ppg while allowing 78.1 ppg for a +5.4 point differential. The Storm have won two straight games and eight of their last nine games. They are coming off a win over the Dallas Wings, 92-84. They have also beat Phoenix at home this year, 80-62. The Phoenix Mercury are in 6th in the WNBA with a 6-7 record. They average 81.8 ppg but allow 85.8 ppg for a -4 point differential. They have lost six of their last nine game, including their last game at home to Las Vegas, 103-99. Seattle playing well both on offense and defense. They hold opponents to the second lowest field goal shooting in the league and they lead the league in rebounding. Seattle had no trouble with this team in their first meeting and I don't see that changing here in the second meeting today. Seattle just has too much on both ends for this Mercury team. Play Seattle.

The NY Liberty are the 2nd best team in the WNBA this season and having a great year with a 11-2 record. They only trail the Connecticut Sun by a half game for the best record in the WNBA. They also have the 2nd best point differential with a +9.9. The Liberty have also won seven straight games. The defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces are in 5th right now with a 6-5 record. They have a +2 point differential. This is a rematch of the WNBA finals from last year in which Las Vegas won 3 games to 1. New York is the second best scoring team in the WNBA and are second in field goal percentage and sixth in 3-point shooting. They have an excellent defense, ranked 2nd in the league. The Aces have struggled at this year so far. They lost to Minnesota last Tuesday, 86-100 and then won over Phoenix, 103-99. That win snapped a three-game losing streak by the Aces. New York is just the better team at this juncture of the season. And as such, I'll take the few points with the Liberty here today.

Chicago Sky travel to Washington to take on the Mystics here on Friday. The Sky are in 8th place in the WNBA with a 4-7 record. They have a -1.5 point differential, scoring 78.5 ppg and allowing 80.0 ppg. They actually have a winning road record at 3-2 on the season. The Mystics are dead last in the WNBA with a 1-12 record and -6.8 point differential. They average 75.6 ppg (lowest in the WNBA) and allow 82.4 ppg. They are 0-5 at home looking for that first road win of the season. This will be the second meeting between these teams this year. Chicago took the first game, 79-71 at Washington. The Mystics are coming off their first win of the season last Tuesday in a 87-68 road win over Atlanta, ending that 12 game losing streak to start the season. The Sky are very good at defending, in particular the 3-point shots. With the Mystics relying on their 3-point shooting that will be difficult tonight. I'm taking the Sky here on Friday night.

The Connecticut Sun look to stay unbeaten in the WNBA as they host the Washington Mystics tonight. The Sun are 8-0 on the season and in 1st place by 1.5-games over the NY Liberty. They average 80.8 ppg while allowing 70.6 ppg for a +10.2 pint differential. The Sun have the top ranked defense in the league and the 6th ranked offense. The Washington Mystics are 0-8 and looking for their first win of the season tonight. Likely won't happen against this Sun team. The Mystics average 74.4 ppg and allow 83.8 ppg. The Mystic are getting 13.5 points here tonight. Question is will the Sun be motivated to do much more then get the win. The Sun won't lose but I'm looking for the Mystics to slide in under the point spread. Take the points with Washington.

The Minnesota Lynx are in 2nd place overall in the WNBA, 1.5-games back of first place Connecticut Sun. The Lynx have won both games at home and have a +10.2 point differential. They average 88.6 ppg while allowing 78.4 ppg. They will face the defending WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces. The Aces are 3-1 and in 3rd place, two games back of the Sun. The Aces lead the WNBA in scoring with a 81.3 ppg average while they allow 85 ppg. Both teams playing very well but the Lynx getting 4.5 or 5 points at home where they are 2-0 is more than I can pass on here tonight. I'll take the Lynx plus the points.

Two teams both looking to get off the one win they have will meet here tonight as the Indiana Fever host the LA Sparks. The Indiana Fever have been the talk of the league and have generated more interest then ever seen in the league with Caitlin Clark coming on board. The Number One pick is averaging 15.4 ppg, 5.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists. Both teams have just one win this season and the Fever beat the Sparks in LA. The Sparks coming off a loss to Dallas, 83-84, despite outscoring the Wings 20-14 in the 4th quarter. The Sparks average 77.8 ppg while allowing 82.2 ppg. Indiana averages 77.4 ppg and allows 90 ppg. I believe this is way too many points for the Fever to lay in any game. They have just one straight up win and now you are asking them to cover this game by six points. I look for a close game that the Fever can win, but not cover this number. Play Los Angeles.

 The Caitlin Clark saga continues in Indiana as the first year rookie continue to garner much attention. However, despite her average this year, the Fever are 0-5 on the season. The Fever to hope to get their first win of the season tonight against the 1-2 LA Sparks at the Crypto.com Arena in LA. Clark put up 21 points in their last game, a loss at Seattle, 83-85. Though the Fever did cover the spread in that game. The offense is ranked 11th overall with a 76.8 ppg mark but is giving up 91.6 ppg. Clark is averaging 17.8 ppg and 5.8 assists per game. The Sparks finally got their first win after losing their first two games of the season. They allowed only 68 points in their win over the Washington Mystics. I know the Fever will have to win eventually, but they are favored on the road and haven't won yet. I'll have to see that first win before I can fade points on the road. Play the LA Sparks.

 Caitlin Clark has been the talk of the WNBA this season. After her big run with Iowa in the Women's NCAA Championships, she moved right over into the pro circuit with the Indiana Fever. While Clark's presense might take some time to turn into wins for the Fever, her impact on the seats has been immediate. Not only has she energized the WNBA but the Indiana Fever are drawing fans. However Clark and the Fever are still looking for that first win of the season after an 0-4 start. Tonight could be the night though as they face the 1-3 Seattle Storm. The Fever should have won last game on Monday as Clark scored 17 points to bring the Fever back in the 4th quarter to tie the game with seconds to play. However, a questionable coaching move had Clark on the bench after hitting that game tying layup. The Fever ended up losing in the final seconds despite Clark's excellent second half. So will tonight be their first win? I don't know if they will win, but I'll take the 5.5-points with the Fever against a Seattle team that has just one win and a -6 point differential. Take Indiana.

The NY Liberty are coming off a strong start to their season with a 85-80 win over the Washington Mystics. The Liberty were 32-8 last season and 16-4 in the East. The Liberty have it all, scoring, rebounding and defense and that will make them one of the favorites to win it all this year. The Liberty will face Indiana and Caitlin Clark. Clark scored 20 points but the Fever were beat by Connecticut, 71-92 in their opening game. While the team had impressive offensive numbers they will have to improve on defense as they allowed too many easy scores in their loss. Another tough opponent for the Fever here. I expect the Fever to improve as the season goes along, but against a seasoned, well balanced team like the Liberty they will likely face another double digit loss here tonight. Play New York.

The Indiana Fever were the highlight of the draft when they picked Caitlin Clark overall 1st. Clark made headlines with Iowa in the NCAA tournament and went right into the WNBA with little time off. Does Clark have the Fever on track to win a WNBA title in the next four years. Consider that the the three times in WNBA history that a team has had back-to-back No 1 picks (as the Fever did this year and last) they have won a WNBA title within four years. Now that the preseason is over and the regular season is starting, all eyes will be on Clark. There is no place but up for a Fever team that won 13 games last year. So whatever hype Clark has generated, they will be better. Not Championship better, but much better. The Fever are still a young team and will take time to gel and mature into a possible Championship team. As for the Sun, they are a well oiled machine that has made the playoff semifinals in each of the last five years. They return their core players this year and will be even stronger as they return Brionna Jones from an Achilles injury. They added depth in the off season and should challenge the top teams in the league. The Fever will one day be good, but not good enough right now for this seasoned and deep Sun team. Play Connecticut.

Game 4 of the WNBA Championship Finals from the Barclays Center in New York. Las Vegas can win their second consecutive title with a win here tonight as they lead this series 2-1. The Liberty looking to send this series back to Vegas for a decisive game five. Vegas is led by A'ja Wilson who averages 23.8 ppg and Kelsey Plum's 19.8 ppg. The Aces will be without their star guard in Chelsea Gray, who injured her foot. That's a huge loss to this Aces team. The Liberty are led by Breanna Stewart and her 19.3 ppg and Jonquel Jones and her 18.2 ppg. Vegas is 5-2 ATS their last seven games while New York is 3-8 ATS their last 11 games. Vegas went to a six-point dog once Plum was ruled out for this game. Still, lots of firepower left for Vegas and getting that many points just too much to pass on. I'll take Vegas and the points here tonight.

Game 3 of this WNBA best of five series plays in Uncasville, Connecticut with the teams tied at 1-1. Connecticut took game one, 78-63 at New York then lost game two 77-84. Connecticut has covered the first two games as 8.5 and 8.5 point dogs. The NY Liberty shot just 34% from the field in game one before a 45% night in their win in game two. The Sun have covered the first two of the series and while the line has dropped here in game three, I like the Sun to even win this game outright. The Sun are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games with 2 days of rest. They have also covered five of their last seven at home vs the Liberty. I'll take another shot here with Connecticut.

The Connecticut Sun are like a cat with nine lives. They are now 4-0 in elimination games this playoff season. And now they face another one here in game four. The Sun pulled away in the 4th quarter of game four for an easy win to keep the series alive and force another game. So here we are, game four. A win and we go back to Vegas for a decisive game five. I like the Sun to once again show they are not an easy out. Take the Sun to force game five.

The Las Vegas Aces on the verge of bring a first ever major championship banner to Las Vegas as they sit 2-0 in this best of five series. However, Connecticut might still have something to say about the outcome. The Sun have the leagues top 3 offense and defense. The Aces got out to an early lead in game two and never looked back as they cruised to the easy. It would be easy for the Sun to give it up here as they now have to win three straight and that has never happened in this playoff format. Still, I believe their is something left in the tank and they won't go down easy. I'll take a shot with the Sun tonight.

 Game two of this best of five series has the Aces up one game to none. The Aces jumped out to a big lead in game one but found themselves fighting from behind in the 2nd half to finally take the win, but not cover the 6-point line. The first game was a defensive battle and that was expected as the Sun are top 3 in the WNBA in both offense and defense. The Aces struggled at times in their Seattle matchup and a few of the games came down to the wire. In fact, an OT win by Vegas that Seattle could have easily won changed the tide in that series. The Sun have covered 10 of their last 11 road games and are 17-5 ATS overall their last 22 games. Vegas has covered just one of their last five home games and are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 WNBA Championship games. I'm taking the points with the Sun tonight and won't be shocked if they steal game two.

 Both these teams putting on a great show in the playoffs as the LV Aces can wrap up the West and a spot in the finals with a win tonight. However, Seattle has proven way tougher in the postseason then in the regular season where LV took three of four games. Seattle could easily be the one looking to advance tonight after that heartbreaking loss in OT in game three. Vegas had to tie it up with just under two seconds remaining in regulation to force an OT or this is a different series heading into tonight. Will Seattle be able to come back here tonight after that heartbreaking game three loss? I believe they will. They have played great in all three games and given Vegas all they can handle. I look for this series to go the distance after Seattle wins tonight.

Chicago has had the Connecticut number all season, going 4-0 against the Sun. The last two games winning by three points. Chicago has also covered three of their four matches. These two teams are about as evenly matched as any two teams in the playoffs have been. Their games seem to come down to the final moments. Everyone seems to be siding with Chicago in this one as they have always came out on top against the Sun. I, however, will be on the Sun tonight. I look for them to finally get a win at home against the Sky. You can make a case by the numbers for either team, this one is based on my own numbers and experience. I'm taking Connecticut to pull this game out.

Game three here in the Western Semi-Finals is a dog fight as the Aces and Storm are tied at one game each. The Storm shocked the Aces in game one by stealing that game on the Las Vegas home court. So that means home court back in the Storm's court now. The Aces have averaged 90.4 ppg this season, much higher than the 78.4 ppg that the Storm have allowed. Breanna Stewart has been amazing for the Storm, as she had 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in game two vs Washington in round one. The Aces have a dominant team, and while I believe we saw the best the Storm could do in game one, I like them to stay close here today with Stewart unstoppable. The Storm are a 1-point home favorite for a reason and I believe that's because they are going to win this game. Take Seattle.

The Las Vegas Aces took the overall first place as the best team in the regular season. Then their head coach, Becky Hammon, was named Coach of the Year. The only thing missing, a WNBA Championship and the Seattle Storm are standing in their way. The Aces are coming off a 1st round sweep the Phoenix Mercury, taking game two by 37-points. Seattle also had little trouble in their opening round with the Washington Mystics, sweeping them in two games. The Aces have won three of the four meetings with the Storm this year. While Vegas had their way with Seattle in the regular season, this isn't the regular season. One person the Aces wish they had was Dearica Hamby. Hamby injured her knee back on August 10th vs the Atlanta Dream and will miss today's contest. Some generous points here today to be had with the Storm. Would I be shocked by a Storm upset today? No, but I'll take the points and look for them to be close at the final buzzer. Take Seattle.

Not many gave the Liberty a chance in this series. Especially the home crowd. The Sky could have won the first two games at home and this game at NY would never have been. Instead the Liberty took game one at Chicago as a 9-point dog and the split on the road gets them the home game tonight. Chicago is the defending WNBA champion, so don't expect them to fold under the pressure tonight. They reminded everyone of just that with a 32-point blowout win in game two of this series. Chicago had the 2nd best road record in the WNBA so playing here in NY tonight shouldn't bother them. NY is the team with no pressure tonight, but for me, I know the Sky are the much better team and they won't let this road venue bother them. I'll lay the points with Chicago.

Game one of the best of three tonight in Chicago has the Sky hosting the NY Liberty. Chicago is looking to be the first back-to-back champions as they begin defense of their 2021 crown. The Liberty are led by record setting guard Sabrina Lonescu who was the first player with 500+ points as well as 200+rebounds and 200+assists. The Sky can't overlook the Liberty in this series. The Liberty had the 2nd best defense rating over the last two weeks. Chicago was 3-1 S/U vs the Liberty this year, however the Liberty owned the spread record at 2-1-1 ATS. I believe this line is too high for a very good defensive team like New York. I'll take the Liberty plus the heafty points here tonight.

The WNBA down to just a handful of regular season games. Eight teams will make the playoffs and New York needs to win out to really have a shot. The Liberty are 13-20 on the season and tied for 9th in the league. They are just a half game behind the final playoff spot held by Atlanta. That means wins are imperative for the club. Meanwhile Dallas has clinched a playoff spot with a 17-16 record. The Wins are in 6th place and look to be locked into that spot as they trail 5th place Washington by two games. The Wings look to have nothing to play for these final games while the Liberty will be playing for their playoff lives. I'll take New York plus the points here today.

 The LA Sparks currently sit in 6th place in the WNBA with a 12-14 record. They have won two straight games, beating the Fever 86-79 and then the Dream last game, 85-78. These teams met not long ago with the Aces winning 79-73. As for the Aces, they were in first place a good part of the season, but have since dropped to 2nd with a 19-8 record. Las Vegas has been inconsistent of late, losing three of four games before getting back on track and winning three straight. They have split their last two games, losing at home to the Atlanta Dream as a double digit favorite, 76-92. That has been an issue for this team, their inconsistent play. So laying these kinds of points as they are tonight is difficult to do. I'll take the points with the Sparks. Play LA

Just one game on the WNBA slate tonight and that's the Atlanta Dream playing at the NY Liberty. Both these teams fighting for one of those last playoff spots as the Liberty are in 7th place with a 8-10 record and the Dream are in 9th place with a 8-11 record. The Liberty have won two straight, including their game over the Dream 89-77 at Atlanta. This back-to-back series now changes venues to New York. Atlanta has lost three straight games and seven of their last eight games. New York is 6-1 ATS in their last seven overall games and 7-0 ATS vs the WNBA Eastern Conference teams. The Liberty playing much better here of late. I'll lay the points with New York.

The No 4 and No 5 teams in the WNBA meet tonight as the 4th place Seattle Storm host the 5th place Washington Mystics. Seattle has won seven of their last 10 games but has just a 1.6 Point differential this season. The Washington Mystics are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have a better +4 point differential. What I believe is the key to this game tonight is the No 1 defense in the league by Washington. These teams are pretty even, but I can take the best defensive team getting points I will take that. Play Washington.

The Washington Mystics are 2nd overall in the WNBA with a 4-1 record, just behind 5-1 Las Vegas. The Mystics are outscoring their opponents by 9.4 ppg this year. The Mystics only loss coming at home to the Dallas Wings, 86-94. Atlanta also having a good season thus far, off to a 4-1 record and tied with Washington. The difference is in points differential where Atlanta has just a +2.8 ppg differential. They Mystics have pretty much owned the Dream, going 5-2 ATS in their last seven trips to Atlanta and 15-5-2 ATS in their last 22 overall meetings. I'll lay the short points here tonight with the Mystics.

Opening day of the season for both these teams as the Connecticut Sun take on the Liberty from New York. The Suns have been hot vs the number, covering their last 11 of 16 games. Meanwhile the Liberty are just 3-8 ATS their last 11 in the Eastern Conference and 1-4 ATS in their last five home games. The Suns have also done well in this series, going 5-1-1 ATS their last seven meetings. Not a lot to go on early, but the Suns look to be very good again this season while I don't see a lot of improvement in the Liberty. Play Connecticut Sun.

Opening game of the regular season for both teams here tonight. The WNBA preseason is only a couple of games so it's difficult to get a handle on these early games. The Storm were 2-0 in their preseason, beating LA 81-68 and Phoenix, 82-78. Minnesota Lynx opened preseason with a loss to Washington, 66-78 and then a win over Las Vegas, 89-86. Minnesota has to take the long trip West here tonight. Taking last season into the picture I will take Seattle here tonight and lay the points.

The Chicago Sky have taken a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals after a decisive win in game three at home. I had the Sky in game three and they didn't disappoint me. In fact, I believe the Sky have been the best team in all of the WNBA playoffs and if not for that OT they would have won all three games. Still, it's 2-1 Sky and they are at home will they will get that great support again here on Sunday. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm sticking with the Sky here in game four. Play Chicago Sky.

WNBA finals took a few days off after game one which saw the Chicago Sky take a 1-0 lead over the Phoenix Mercury after a 91-77 win. The Sky got hot at the end of the season and beat the WNBA best regular season team in Connecticut to advance to the finals. The Sky are averaging 83.3 ppg and allowing 81.9 ppg. Kehleah Cooper is leading the way for the Sky averaging 14.4 ppg. The Phoenix Mercury beat the WNBA's 2nd best regular season team in Las Vegas to advance. They average 82.1 ppg and allow 79.5 ppg. Chicago has impressed these entire playoffs. However, the Suns have too and I look for them to even this series here tonight. Phoenix has a 0-5-1 O/U record in their last six home games.   Play Phoenix and the UNDER.

The Minnesota Lynx have to be happy facing the Indiana Fever. The Lynx have faced the Fever twice this month and beaten them twice. The last was a 90-80 win. The Fever are horrible, posting a 6-24 record, 2nd worst in the WNBA an now having an eye on the offseason. The defense has been horrible, allowing at least 86 points in each of their last five games. Minnesota is 20-10 and have scored at least 89 points in each of their last four games. Laying 9-points on the road not usually something I like to do, but this should be an easy blowout win tonight. Play Minnesota. 

The Seattle Storm are the defending champions, but they are in the middle of a fight here in the WNBA. They trail first place Connecticut by 3.5 games, 2nd place Las Vegas by 2-games and are ahead of 4th place Minnesota by just a half game. Then they have Phoenix just 1-game back. So every game as we head down the stretch is important. They win here tonight.

The LV Aces know that in order to win the WNBA they have to be more focused early in games. Lately that hasn't been the case as they have gotten off to some slow starts and found themselves fighting from behind late in the game. They trail Connecticut by just 1.5 games for the WNBA's best record. They know what they need to do and they get it done here tonight.

The Connecticut Sun are the best team in the WNBA with a 20-6 record as we head toward the end of the regular season. Home court is important and they currently lead 2nd place Las Vegas by 1-game. The Sun have won nine of their last 10 games. The Sun have covered five of their last six games (all as a favorite). Washington Mystics are in 9th place, one game back of the 8th and final playoff spot. The Mystics are just 2-8 S/U over their last 10 games. The issue for the Mystics are injuries. Washington F Elana Delle Donne is questionable today with a back injury and C Tina Charles is out with another injury. Playing Connecticut is tough enough, playing without two key players is a huge handicap. Take Connecticut here today.

The Connecticut Sun sit in third place in the WNBA standings with a 13-6 record, just 1.5-games back of the Seattle Storm. The Sun have been very good at home, 8-1 on the season, but just average (5-5) on the road. They will face the 6th place NY Liberty, who are 10-10 on the season. The Sun are just 1-5 ATS in their last six road games. The Liberty are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings with the Sun at New York. I'll take the points with the home team here today. Take NY Liberty.

Las Vegas Aces in 2nd place in the WNBA Standings with a 14-6 overall record. They are one-game back of the Seattle Storm. The Aces have lost two straight games but have won seven of their last 10. The Aces aren't the best road team at covering spreads, going 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight as a road favorite. The Dallas Wings are in 8th place with a 9-11 record. They have also lost two-straight games. The Wings are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a underdog. I'll take the points at home here with the Wings.

The Washington Mystics currently sit in 9th place in the WNBA with a 7-9 record. They are riding a 3-game losing streak as they travel to New York to take on the Liberty. The NY Liberty are in 7th place with a 8-9 record and are 3-7 in their last 10 games. The Mystics have done well as a dog, evidenced by their 10-4 ATS mark their last 14 games. The Liberty are just 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite and home favorite. Mystics have covered four of the last five meetings both overall and in New York. I'll take the Mystics plus the points today.

Connecticut Sun are 10-5 on the season and in 3rd place. The Sun have won two straight games and have a +5.0 point differential. The Washington Mystics are in 9th place with a 7-7 record. The Mystics have lost two straight games and are 5-5 over their last 10 games. The Suns have been a very good road team, posting a 9-4-1 ATS record over their last 14 away contests. They are also 5-2 ATS their last seven games when installed as the favorite. Suns have all the edges in this one tonight. I'm taking the visitor. Play Connecticut Sun.

The Connecticut Sun are in third place in the WNBA with a 8-3 record. They are coming off a loss to the Seattle Storm, 66-89. However, they have won seven of their last 10 games. The Suns are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 road games. They are also 4-1-1 ATS in their last six road games as a dog. The Chicago Sky are 9th in the league with a 5-7 record. The Sky have won three straight games after a seven game losing streak. The Sky also have a poor home record at 1-5. The Sky are just 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite and 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games. The Sun are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games at Chicago. I'll be on the Sun here tonight. Play Connecticut.

New York Liberty are 4th in the WNBA with a 5-4 record. However, they started the season 5-1 and have lost three straight. The Phoenix Mercury are 6th with a 5-5 record. The NY Liberty have not been a good covering team in recent seasons, going 15-34-2 over their last 51 games vs the spread. They are also 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games. Phoenix has covered the last four in this series. Take The Phoenix Mercury here on Sunday.

 The Washington Mystics are 7th in the WNBA standings with a 4-5 record. They have been better of late, winning two straight games over the LA Sparks (89-71 and the Minnesota Lynx (85-81). The Atlanta Dream are 4-6 on the season but have lost four straight after a 4-2 start. They are also 1-4 at home this season. The Mystics are now 5-0 ATS in their last five games and 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games. The Dream are just 1-5 ATS in their last six home games. The Mystics are 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven meetings with the Dream and 5-1 ATS in the last six at Atlanta. Play Washington.