Michael Smith
The Women’s National Basketball Association has a fairly extreme competitive imbalance between the two conferences. Of the 12 teams, the top four in terms of win-loss record are in the Western Conference — along with the sixth- and eighth-best. The Dallas Wings, at 6-10, at the only team in the West with a record below .500. Only one team in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Sky, has a winning record, currently at 11-6. The league has a bubble of its own, at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
While the NBA is moving into the conference semifinals, the WNBA is still plugging away at the regular season.
Top Games for the Week
Los Angeles Sparks vs Dallas Wings
Wednesday, September 2
8:00 pm ET
The Sparks come in off a win over the 3-14 Atlanta Dream that was far from inspiring. The Sparks only put up 17 points in the first quarter and went into the locker room down 38-37 at halftime. They did score 47 points in the second half, but they still only won by five over one of the WNBA’s bottom-feeders. Brittney Sykes led the team with 15 points, joined in double figures by Chelsea Gray, who had 14. Candace Parker led the Sparks with 10 boards, but no one else had more than six. Sparks also led the team with seven assists. The Wings won their last game on Saturday, holding off the Indiana Fever by four in an 8-278 victory. Dallas got off to a big start, running out to a 28-18 lead after one quarter. However, the Fever came back and led by two going into the fourth quarter. The Wings outscored the Fever, 26-20, in the last frame to get the win. This Dallas team is very young, but they’re loving the play they’re getting from Arike Ogunbowale, who went off for 30 points. Satou Sabally had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Allisha Gray (13) and Marina Mabrey (10) also had double figures in points. Kayla Thornton led the team with eight assists. Could the Wings get another huge game out of Ogunbowale and pull off the upset — or at least the cover?
If the Sparks are double-digit favorites, I’d lean hard toward taking Dallas and the value.
Las Vegas Aces vs Connecticut Sun
Thursday, September 3
8:00 pm ET
The Aces (12-3) rolled over the New York Liberty (2-13) on Saturday. The game was tight throughout the first three quarters, as the teams went into the last frame tied. Then things fell apart for the Liberty, as Las Vegas outscored them 24-7, en route to an 80-63 win. A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 20 points, and Dearica Hamby (17), Sugar Rodgers (12), Angel McCoughtry (10) and Kayla McBride (10) joined her in double figures. Hamby led the team with 10 boards, and Danielle Robinson led the team with six helpers. The Aces play the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night, so you should check any injury updates from that game before you lock in your wagers.
The Sun (7-9) rolled over the Washington Mystics (4-11) on Sunday, 76-63. The Sun were never really threatened, leading by four points after one quarter and 11 points at the half. Forward DeWanna Bonner led the way with 20 points, joined in double figures by Kaila Charles and Alyssa Thomas, who had 16 points each. Bonner and Thomas led the team with 11 boards apiece, and Thomas also led the team in assists with eight, just two away from a triple-double. The Sun only ran an eight-person rotation. Given how well the Aces are playing, even without Liz Cambage, I would pick the Aces here as long as the spread isn’t more than nine points.
