WNBA Betting Picks and Player Props for Wednesday 5/15/24
The WNBA is back, and fans and bettors alike can get into the action on FanDuel Sportsbook.
The W's 40-game season offers a wide variety of betting options, including point spreads, moneylines, and totals. While there's a lot to sift through, advanced stats from the WNBA can help us find an edge in the betting market.
Let's dive into the WNBA odds on FanDuel Sportsbook and find today's best bets.
Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.
WNBA Best Bets
Chicago Sky at Dallas Wings
Angel Reese Over 17.5 Points + Rebounds (-122)
Angel Reese makes her WNBA debut for the Chicago Sky tonight, and I'm interested in the over on her points + rebounds prop, currently set at 17.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Reese was selected seventh overall in last month's draft after averaging 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game in her senior season at LSU. At 6'3", Reese won't be as physically dominant in the W as she was in college, but her athleticism and motor should still make an immediate impact in the pros.
We saw that play out in Chicago's two preseason games, during which Reese averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds across 21 minutes per game. She notably attempted 10 and 8 shots in those two games, so the Sky appear ready to entrust her with a significant role right off the bat.
That should be especially apparent in their season opener with fellow post players Kamilla Cardoso and Isabelle Harrison both out tonight. With those two sidelined, Reese is expected to be in the starting lineup.
It remains to be seen how many minutes the Sky afford Reese straightaway, but there's a lot of playing time up for grabs with last year's leading scorer and rebounder elsewhere in 2024.
Tonight, Reese and the Sky take on the Dallas Wings. Dallas finished with the fourth-best record in the W last season, but they were middle-of-the-pack defensively. They let up the third-most points per game (84.9), in part due to their third-ranked pace.
While the Wings didn't let up a ton of interior baskets last season, they were incredibly foul-prone, letting up the third-most free throw attempts per game. That could lead to more easy points at the line for Reese considering she led all of college basketball in free throw attempts in 2022-23 and shot 70% from the stripe for her career.
A fast-paced affair should allow Angel Reese to rack up the points and boards in her WNBA debut, so I'll back her to go over 17.5 combined points and rebounds tonight.
Atlanta Dream at Los Angeles Sparks
Sparks +4.5 (-106)
Dearica Hamby Over 7.5 Rebounds (+102)
The Atlanta Dream travel west to take on the Los Angeles Sparks for their season-opener, and I think we're getting some value with the home underdogs.
The Sparks finished ninth with a 17-23 record last season, but their offseason moves suggest that 2024 will be a rebuilding year. LA parted ways with both of their leading scorers from last season, including franchise cornerstone Nneka Ogwumike.
That did earn them a pair of top-four picks in last month's draft, selecting forwards Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson.
Those two should see all the run they can handle in the opener, but it's not like the Sparks' roster is completely barren. They still have Lexie Brown and Layshia Clarendon -- both of whom averaged double-digit points last season -- as well as veteran Dearica Hambry.
On paper, the Dream are the better team here. They finished fifth with a 19-21 record last season and feature several household names. Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Cheyenne Parker all return after each averaged at least 15 points per game in 2023.
They also added former MVP Tina Charles and acquired former Sparks point guard Jordin Canada.
But Canada will miss tonight's opener with a hand injury. Her defense will be sorely missed, and an already-suspect Dream bench will be even thinner without one of their top starters. The Sparks impressed with a pair of wins in the preseason, so I like them to keep things tight at home tonight.
A big reason for that is Dearica Hamby. After playing a significant role in the Aces 2022 championship run, Hamby was up-and-down in her first season with the Sparks last year. But she averaged 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds as a starter, snagging at least 8 rebounds in 12 of 19 games in the first five.
Hamby pulled down 9 and 7 rebounds in two preseason games, so she's in a nice spot to go over her rebounds prop against a Dream side that let up the third-most rebounds per game last season.
I like both of these bets separately, but you could put them in a Same Game Parlay, as well. As of Wednesday afternoon, parlaying the Sparks +4.5 and Dearica Hamby over 7.5 rebounds gets you +254 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.
The WNBA regular season is here! All customers get a 30% Profit Boost to use on any WNBA game taking place May 14th or May 15th! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today’s other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.
Looking for more WNBA betting opportunities? Check out the WNBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!
The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.