WNBA Greatest Bets September 2nd: Liberty vs. Valkyries, Fever vs. Mercury Picks

With the WNBA common season concluding this month, the playoff race is intensifying each recreation — making it an ideal time to wager on the league.

Listed here are Deadspin’s WNBA betting picks for Tuesday, Sept. 2.

New York Liberty vs. Golden State Valkyries

Unfold: Liberty -6 (-110) | Valkyries +6 (-110)
Moneyline: Liberty -265 | Valkyries +210
Whole: 156 (-110)

The Valkyries have been streaky prior to now month, rattling off a four-game profitable streak adopted by a three-game skid. They’re presently trending upward, although, with three consecutive wins which have pushed them into the sixth seed and two and a half video games forward of the ninth-place Los Angeles Sparks.

Golden State is scrappy and stays an sudden playoff contender, although its latest success is considerably deceptive. Two of its three wins got here in opposition to non-playoff groups (Dallas Wings and Washington Mystics), whereas the third was over the banged-up Indiana Fever. Its three-game slide got here in opposition to postseason locks.

New York is a kind of playoff-caliber squads. The Liberty sit two and a half video games forward of Golden State however are simply 3-5 of their final eight contests. Count on the Liberty to win, however this ought to be a good matchup.

Greatest Guess: Valkyries +6 (-110, FanDuel)
Golden State is 24-14-1 in opposition to the unfold this season. With postseason seeding on the road, the Valkyries ought to push New York more durable than anticipated.

Prop Choose: Sabrina Ionescu Beneath 15.5 Factors (-113)
Ionescu has hovered round this quantity in latest weeks, however her effectivity has been abysmal. Since Aug. 5, she’s averaging 13.8 factors whereas taking pictures 33.9% from the sphere and 25.9% from 3-point vary.

Golden State’s stingy protection (76.8 factors allowed per recreation, fewest within the WNBA) ought to proceed to frustrate her.

Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury

Unfold: Fever +6.5 (-112) | Mercury -6.5 (-108)
Moneyline: Fever +210 | Mercury -265
Whole: 165 (-108/-112)

The Fever have managed to remain afloat regardless of dropping Caitlin Clark and struggling accidents to Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham. Nonetheless, they’ve slipped to the eighth and ultimate playoff seed.

Indiana is 6-7 since Aug. 1, whereas Phoenix is 9-4 over that span. The Mercury have additionally received 4 straight, together with victories over Golden State, Los Angeles and New York.

The Fever edged Phoenix 107-101 of their July 30 assembly, however McDonald, Cunningham and Colson mixed for 47 factors in that win. Within the Aug. 7 rematch, Alyssa Thomas powered the Mercury with a triple-double in a 95-60 blowout victory. Phoenix ought to once more make the most of Indiana’s depleted roster.

Greatest Guess: Beneath 165 Whole Factors (-112, FanDuel)
Indiana’s offense has cooled off after a sizzling August, failing to succeed in 80 factors in every of its final two video games. Phoenix ranks fourth in protection and will additional suppress the Fever, whereas its offense is common, creating situations for a low-scoring recreation.

Prop Choose: Kelsey Mitchell Beneath 20.5 Factors (-132)
Mitchell has been restricted to 14 and 12 factors in her final two outings. In two earlier video games in opposition to Phoenix, she totaled simply 20 factors. Count on the Mercury protection to proceed locking her down.