Expert Top WNBA Betting Picks of the Week – August 20th.

Expert Top WNBA Betting Picks of the Week – August 20

Written by on August 20, 2018

The WNBA regular season concluded on Sunday. Check back at Mybookie Sportsbook for odds when the full postseason schedule is released. Here’s what we know for now.

Expert Top WNBA Betting Picks of the Week – August 20th

Connecticut Suns

The Connecticut Sun clinched the No. 4 seed in the postseason thanks to an 89-86 victory over the L.A. Sparks on Sunday thanks to a big game from point guard Jasmine Thomas. She had 17 points by halftime and ended the game with 27 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. Thomas, not always known for scoring, was 57.1 percent from the field and 80 percent from the arc on Sunday. She hit 4-of-5 3-pointers and drained all 7 of her free throws. The Sun were 11 of 20 from three-point range and 32 of 63 (50.8 percent) overall from the field while also hitting on 14 of 16 free throws. They needed every point because Los Angeles, which has been to the last three finals with a WNBA championship in 2016, kept rallying. Connecticut will have to wait a few days before they know who their opponent will be, but they’ll begin preparations on Tuesday, Coach Curt Miller said. The Sun will open the playoffs Thursday against either the No. 5 Phoenix Mercury or No. 8 Dallas Wings. Should the Sun win Thursday, they would advance to the semifinals, a best-of-five series with the top-seeded Seattle Storm that would begin on Sunday, August 26.

Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks fell to the No. 6 seed with the loss and will host Minnesota in the first round. Candace Parker had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Connecticut, and Jantel Lavender scored 17 points for Los Angeles. Parker’s 4.8 assists per game seventh overall in the WNBA and first overall for non-point guards. In the Sparks’ Aug. 8 victory against New York, she became the 12th player in WNBA history to reach the 2,500 rebound milestone. The former Rookie of the Year, two-time MVP, and 2016 WNBA Finals MVP passed the 5,000 career points milestone during the Sparks’ 78-75 win over the Mercury on August 5th.

Best Record

Seattle has clinched the best record in the WNBA and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Seattle claimed the league’s best regular-season record for the first time since 2010 when it won the last of its two WNBA titles.

They have a Dream

The Atlanta Dream is the No. 2 seed. They have won a franchise-record nine straight games. Coach Nicki Collen has preached defense since she took over the Dream this offseason. Her approach is starting to show as Atlanta is allowing 79.6 points per game and are recording 7.7 steals and 5.3 blocks per contest. However, the Dream might be hard-pressed to win it all without Angel McCoughtry. She’s out for the season due to torn ligaments in her left knee, an injury suffered in the fourth quarter of the Dream’s game against the Las Vegas Aces on August 7. Without Angel McCoughtry, the Dream is no WNBA Betting favorite for the 2018 playoffs. McCoughtry was averaging 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 27.5 minutes. She was named an All-Star. McCoughtry ranks 15th overall among WNBA career scoring leaders at 5,468 career points. She is also a perennial member of the WNBA All-Defensive team and is now ranked 10th place all-time with 597 career steals.

Sparks vs Lynx

As for the Sparks-Lynx matchup, they last played on Aug. 2 and L.A. won 79-57. Parker had 23 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Los Angeles led by at least eight points from 15-7 on. Minnesota was held to its lowest points total since 2011. Sylvia Fowles was the only Lynx player in double figures with 14 points. Maya Moore was held to eight points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Wings vs Mercury

As for the Wings-Mercury, they haven’t played since July 10, a 101-72 Dallas blowout win. Led by MVP candidate Liz Cambage and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who combine for 41.7 points a game, the Wings have one of the most lethal scoring duos in the league. Cambage, who broke the WNBA record for points in a game with 53 on July 17, is Breanna Stewart’s only real competition for the league MVP award this year.