The Mystics are hosting the Valkyries on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Washington is favored by 4.5 points and this game presents a total of 153.5 points. Below, I have featured three of my favorite WNBA player prop bets for this contest on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Janelle Salaun U 1.5 Made Three Pointers (-130)
Salaun has struggled as an outside shooter this season. The rookie shooting 29% from beyond the arc and she is averaging only 1.4 made three pointers per game. Salaun has appeared in 14 games this season and she has stayed under 1.5 made three pointers in nine of those contests. In fact, Salaun has finished without a make from distance in five of her last 11 games.
Facing the Mystics tonight, who are limiting their opponents to the lowest three point percentage in the WNBA this season, Salaun is a fantastic bet for under 1.5 made three pointers at this reasonable -130 price. In her lone matchup with Washington this season, Salaun went 1-of-4 on three pointers.
Kiki Iriafen U 11.5 Points (-125)
Iriafen should come back down to earth Thursday, after posting a career-high 22 points in her last start. This performance came against the Sky, who rank second-to-last in defensive rating this season. Iriafen is in a much more difficult spot Thursday vs. the Valkyries, who rank fifth in defensive rating. Furthermore, Golden State ranks dead last in pace and the club is giving up the fewest points in the paint this season, making this a poor spot for a forward like Iriafen.
64% of her points have come in the painted area this season and when Iriafen faced the Valkyries earlier this season, she finished with just 10 points. Iriafen got off to a hot start this season, but ever since Shakira Austin moved into the Mystics’ starting lineup in mid June, Iriafen has struggled as a scorer, averaging 10.5 PPG in the 15 starts she has made alongside Austin. Iriafen has fallen short of 11.5 points in 10 of these 15 games and she should come up short of this line again Thursday.
Shakira Austin O 7.5 Rebounds (-140)
Speaking of Austin, the center is a great bet to exceed 7.5 rebounds Thursday. Since becoming the Mystics’ starting center last month, Austin is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, which ranks 10th in the WNBA during this time. The former lottery pick has topped 7.5 rebounds in nine of these 15 games as a starter and with the role, Austin is handling 33.7% rebound percentage and she is logging 26.4 minutes per game.
Austin should approach 30 minutes tonight with Washington only favored by 4.5 points and the Mystics being the favorite for this matchup bodes well for her. Of the nine wins Washington has picked since Austin moved into the starting lineup, she has surpassed 7.5 rebounds in six of these victories.
