WNBA Best Bets Today: Expert Picks, Player Props, Predictions (Tuesday, June 18)
Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Las Vegas Acesduring the second half of the WNBA game at Footprint Center. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Two WNBA matchups that you will definitely want to keep on your radar for tonight as the Los Angeles Sparks take on the league's best, the Connecticut Sun for an NBA TV showcase at 7 p.m ET. Not only that, but next best in the WNBA, the New York Liberty, will look to make it nine straight wins as their next assignment calls for facing Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury.
Get a full scope of the best bets and predictions for Tuesday, June 18 in our WNBA best bets and expert picks for today.
WNBA Best Bets Today | Tuesday, June 18
Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
---|---|---|
10 p.m. | ||
7 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. |
Liberty vs. Mercury
By Jim Turvey
Yes, you read that right, we're on DT assists over now. At the start of the season, Taurasi assist unders were the play, in part because the Mercury brought in Natasha Cloud in the offseason, and she was naturally going to cut into Taurasi's assist rate as the new lead playmaker.
However, another big part of those DT assist unders was the Mercury being without Brittney Griner. DT and BG have been teammates for over a decade now, and they've developed an awesome chemistry that results in Taurasi racking up farrrrr more assists with Griner on the court than off in recent seasons.
In fact, since the start of the 2023 season, Taurasi is averaging 21.6 assists per 100 possessions with Griner on the court versus 6.9 assists per 100 possessions with Griner off the court, per pbpstats.com.
That's among the biggest split I've ever seen for a player impacted by one single other player, and it passes the eye test of watching the Mercury too.
With Griner out to start the season, DT's assist rate plummeted and now we get the chance to buy back on overs. In the three games BG has played full minutes, DT totaled 4, 4, and 7 assists.
As I'm writing, this number is +285 for Taurasi to get 4+ but that number will almost certainly be gone when you read this. I would play this to 4+ (-200), however, so there is a TON of room here. I would also sprinkle the alts if the baseline number still holds some value.
Pick: Diana Taurasi Over 3.5 Assists
Sun vs. Sparks
It's just a tough match-up all-around.
Cameron Brink is a fun talent, but she's not the scorer today she will be tomorrow, and she draws the WNBA's premier defense who plays at a deliberately league slow pace.
The Connecticut Sun frontcourt headlined by Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones is suffocating, and Brink has only gotten over 8.5 points in two of her last nine games and just five of 14 total this season.
Under for me.
Pick: Cameron Brink Under 8.5 Points
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