We’re down to two teams in this electrifying WNBA season. The Golden State Valkyries, in only their second year, have made it to a historic Finals. They’ll face a star-studded Atlanta Dream team making a long-awaited return to the Finals.
With so many elite role players on both sides of the court, the player prop market is ripe. Let’s get into the top player props for Game 1 of these WNBA Finals.
Rhyne Howard Under 15.5 Total Points (-112)
This regular-season matchup was not kind to Rhyne Howard and the Dream. Atlanta lost all three regular-season matchups with the Valkyries, while Howard struggled immensely. Across those three matchups, Howard scored 13.3 points per game while shooting 30.9% from the floor and 26.1% from three. Inefficiency is nothing new for Atlanta’s star wing, but it was especially rough when facing Golden State’s elite defense.
Howard has scored at volume during the playoffs, averaging 19.2 PPG, but is shooting a dreadful 32.2% from the field. Allisha Gray’s absence has increased her volume while tanking her efficiency to an unbelievably low level. Gray is expected to return for Game 1 after a minor hand procedure, which will reduce Howard’s volume. I don’t expect much of an efficiency boost to follow, and Howard will produce another disappointing offensive night.
Janelle Salaün Under 5.5 Total Points (-113)
The Sixth Player of the Year has been a key cog for the Golden State Valkyries all season long. That is, until the playoffs arrived.
In the first two games of Round 1 against the Wings, Salaün played 51 total minutes, and had her usual role. But it was a serious struggle: Salaün shot 6-for-20 from the field in those two games, failing to provide any sort of consistent impact while floundering defensively. During a decisive Game 3, head coach Natalie Nakase pulled the plug entirely: Salaün played only seven minutes, and the Valks pulled out the season-saving victory.
That trend continued into the semifinals against the Aces. Golden State played three games, Golden State won three games, and Salaün was anchored to the bench, playing only 19 minutes and 34 seconds during the entire series. In that time, Salaün took only five field goal attempts and scored seven points.
Salaün was solid in the regular season against Atlanta, scoring 9.3 PPG on 43% shooting, but I’m willing to bet that Nakase is seeing something we can’t. Four straight playoff wins with Salaün playing limited minutes has to mean something, and that trend should continue in Game 1.
