The WNBA is back in full swing with a jam-packed four-game slate on Friday night. So, as you would expect, our basketball betting experts have locked in four bets for today's slate of matchups, featuring a trio of total predictions for Sky-Sun, Mercury-Dream, and Aces-Lynx. Plus, a player prop pick for the early window.
Let's get to our WNBA best bets for Friday, August 23.
WNBA Best Bets for Friday, August 23
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
| 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our WNBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Michael Fiddle's Sky vs Sun WNBA Best Bet
This matchup features two of my favorite teams to attack an under for. The Connecticut Sun are a slow-paced, half court team led by Alyssa Thomas. The Sky are seemingly in tank mode, trading Mabrey and losing their spacing. Despite the Sun being the team to add that spacing in Mabrey, they have not quite adjusted to having her on the team.
In the last two games, she has only hit two three-pointers, going from 10 attempts to only two attempts.
There is uncertainty behind her rotations and shot selection, and she is not yet providing the offensive boost she was brought in for. This still provides another under spot, I expect this line closes a full point lower at 154.5.
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Joe Dellera's Mercury vs Dream WNBA Best Bet
By Joe Dellera
We have a lot of back-to-back series in the WNBA going on right now, and we just saw Howard drop 19 against the Mercury on Wednesday, and now she gets the same matchup again today.
Howard has seen her minutes spike since the league returned to action, and has played 38, 35, and 34 minutes which is a general uptick from her 31 per game average this season. She’s scoring 16.3 ppg on the season, but has scored 21 and 19 in her two matchups against the Mercury.
The key for the upside is she takes far more threes against the Mercury, who are below-average defensively but allow the most 3PM and 3PA. Howard is excellent at shooting above the break threes, but the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rack is helpful as well.
I’ll grab Howard to exceed 16.5 points tonight.
Pick: Rhyne Howard Over 16.5 Points (-120)
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Michael Fiddle's Mercury vs Dream WNBA Best Bet
This is the second straight matchup between these two teams in Atlanta, with the Dream upsetting the Mercury on Wednesday to win their third straight game following the Olympic break. Here the Mercury are the sharp side again, but so is the under.
When two teams play each other in back to back sets like this, we play into less scoring in the second game. It is the emerging basketball version of a baseball series, as both the NBA and WNBA are reducing travel by scheduling these spots.
There is no rest or travel component, the players come back familiar with their opponents tendencies and adjusted for what worked. We also have the underdog winning, so expect the veteran favorites to come out and stop their opponent.
We also have two teams with a dominant interior presence, the Mercury have Team USA center Brittany Griner, and the Dream returned second all time WNBA scorer Tina Charles.
This should limit both possessions and threes, and play toward the under as well. I would play this down to 162.5.
Pick: Under 162.5 (-112)
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Michael Fiddle's Aces vs Lynx WNBA Best Bet
This is the second consecutive game in three days that the Aces and Lynx play one another. It is similar to the Mercury vs Dream situational spot on Friday's WNBA schedule, however we did switch home teams and travel for this game.
Travel and rest is neutralized since both teams make the same trip, we do get familiarity with tendencies, and we also get the defensive team of the two back on their home court. With the Lynx making a trade in the last few days, I expect a shorter rotation, less scoring, and another under spot.
Pick: Under 166.5 (-110)
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