Friday's Best WNBA Bets
Atlanta Dream at Phoenix Mercury (-6, 185.5)
The Atlanta Dream are off and running in the 2010 WNBA season.
They’ve started the season 4-0, recently defeating the talented New York Liberty, 86-77, last Sunday. Atlanta will see if it is for real when it faces the defending WNBA champs, the Phoenix Mercury, at the US Airways Center Friday night.
"(It's) the best start this team's ever had, but it's still just 4-0," leading-scorer Angel McCoughtry told reporters. "If we get to 10-0, then I'll be like 'OK'. It's too early."
"The more you win, the more you get confidence," she said. "And now our confidence is shooting up right now. We feel like we're unstoppable. That's how you should feel if you're undefeated."
The Dream have been getting the job done with a balanced attack, ranking second in team defense, allowing just under 73 points per game, while scoring 81 points a night – fourth in the league.
That combo has also equaled out to a perfect 4-0 record against the spread. That profitable mark will go up against the Mercury, who haven’t covered at home in two games this season. Expect Atlanta to slide under the oddsmakers’ radar against one of the WNBA’s most popular teams.
Pick: Atlanta
New York Liberty at San Antonio Silver Stars (-6, 157)
The San Antonio Silver Stars went from a mid-tier team in the Western Conference to a WNBA title favorite overnight with the addition of talented forward Chamique Holdsclaw.
Holdsclaw, who was released by the Atlanta Dream last week, joined the Silver Stars Friday and scored 19 points in her debut with the team in an 88-81 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday.
“Chamique is just a ball player,” San Antonio coach Sandy Brondello told the Express-News. “She lifted our game to another level and took a lot of pressure off the players around her.”
Holdsclaw is a former Rookie of the Year winner and a six-time WNBA All-Star, but also a troubled player who retired briefly two years ago after dealing with family issues. She missed time last season due to a knee injury, but if she is healthy and motivated, Holdsclaw is one of the best players in the league.
Having Holdsclaw takes the scoring load off guard Becky Hammon and forward Sophia Young, who combine for 40 percent of the Silver Stars’ scoring this season. This team will only get better as time goes on.
Pick: San Antonio
NEW YORK (1 - 2) at SAN ANTONIO (2 - 1)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 54-35 ATS (+15.5 Units) in road games against Western conference opponents since 1997.
NEW YORK is 54-35 ATS (+15.5 Units) in road games in non-conference games since 1997.
NEW YORK is 63-41 ATS (+17.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
SAN ANTONIO is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 3-1 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 3-1 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA (4 - 0) at PHOENIX (2 - 1)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 29-18 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 126-95 ATS (+21.5 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
PHOENIX is 129-94 ATS (+25.6 Units) in home games since 1997.
PHOENIX is 26-16 ATS (+8.4 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games against Western conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 3-1 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-1 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON (3 - 2) at LOS ANGELES (0 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 181-227 ATS (-68.7 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 109-144 ATS (-49.4 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 27-15 ATS (+10.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 3-1 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 2-2 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK vs. SAN ANTONIO
New York is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
New York is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
San Antonio is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against New York
San Antonio is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against New York
ATLANTA vs. PHOENIX
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Atlanta's last 14 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games on the road
Phoenix is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Phoenix is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
WASHINGTON vs. LOS ANGELES
Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Los Angeles is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games at home