The WNBA playoffs kick off today with a full slate of action. Four matchups will be taking place today to begin the best-of-three series, as teams compete for league supremacy.
The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx got the action started against the Golden State Valyries at 1:00 p.m. ET. Then the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream will tip off two hours later. At 5:00 p.m. ET, the New York Liberty will travel to face the Phoenix Mercury before the final matchup between the red-hot Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm. The final game will start at 10:00 p.m. ET.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action across the Sunday playoff slate. Here are my three favorite WNBA prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for the opening playoff matchups.
Kelsey Mitchell Over 18.5 Points (-125)
Losing Caitlin Clark for the season due to injury changed the Indiana Fever’s outlook in a major way this year. But Kelsey Mitchell deserves a ton of credit for stepping up and playing like one of the best guards in the WNBA this year. The three-time All-Star averaged 20.2 points per game across the regular season, along with 3.4 assists while shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the three-point arc. Mitchell has averaged 21.4 points per game since the All-Star break.
Atlanta will have their sights set on Mitchell, and ranked third in the league in opponents’ points allowed. But the 29-year-old scored 25 points against this Dream team in their most recent meeting and in two of the four games this season. She tallied 20+ points in 13 of the final 21 games and recorded over 18.5 in 25 of the 44 games overall this season. The Fever will need a strong performance from Mitchell to remain competitive in this matchup. Look for the star guard to do her part with over 18.5 points in what will be just the third playoff matchup of her career.
Sabrina Ionescu Under 2.5 Made Three-Pointers (-160)
Sabrina Ionescu has been one of the best three-point shooters in the WNBA for the duration of her career, but this has not been the story this year. The four-time All-Star shot a career-worst 29.9% from beyond the three-point arc this season, including just 24.7% over the final month of the season. Ionescu only made over 2.5 three-pointers in 15 of the 38 games she played and failed to clear this total in 10 of her final 12 games.
The Phoenix Mercury rank eighth in the league in opponents’ three-point attempts allowed, but fourth in opponents’ three-point percentage. Ionescu faced the Mercury three times in the regular season. She shot 6-for-23 (26.1%) in these three matchups and was held to under 2.5 made three-pointers in two of the three games. Ionescu deserves credit for making some adjustments to her style of play and still finding ways to make an impact. But the struggles from the perimeter have only worsened as the year progressed, and don’t expect this to change with the pressure increasing in the postseason setting. Count on Ionscu being held to under 2.5 made three-pointers in the playoff opener today.
A’ja Wilson to Record 40+ Points, Rebounds, & Assists (-110)
In the final matchup of the night, the Las Vegas Aces will host the Seattle Storm. They enter as the hottest team in the WNBA and have won their previous 16 games to propel them up the standings and into the playoffs. A’ja Wilson is the straw that stirs the drink for the Aces. The three-time MVP made her case for why she deserves another trophy in the home stretch of the season, averaging 26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across this winning streak. On the season, she has averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
Seattle ranks fourth in the league in opponents’ points allowed, but is dead last in rebounds conceded. Expect Wilson’s presence on the interior to be problematic in this matchup and for the Aces to play directly through their star. She is playing her best basketball at the right time. Wilson has tallied 40+ combined points, rebounds, and assists in eight of her last 11 games and in both home games against the Storm this season. Expect a monster performance to kick off the playoffs with momentum on Wilson’s side, and this being a favorable matchup.
