Best WNBA Player Props Today: Jackson Gets Buckets for L.A.

Prop bet #1: Not sorry Ms. Jackson

Tonight’s clash between the Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks is loaded with budding WNBA superstars — including L.A. rookie Rickea Jackson. 

Jackson is fresh off her first career start, scoring 12 points over 24 minutes in a win over the Fever. She didn’t shoot that well, finishing only 2-for-7 from the field, but got to the foul line 10 times and made seven of those freebies.

With veteran guard Layshia Clarendon still out due to a concussion and Jackson playing great two-way ball, the Tennessee product should once again get a starting nod and notable minutes against Chicago.

Jackson has had up-and-down scoring results while coming off the bench, scoring 13 and 16 points in between quiet showings marred with foul trouble that kept her minutes low.

Player projections for tonight’s tilt lean toward 12 points, with a ceiling closer to 13 over 25 minutes. 

Rickea Jackson prop: Over 11.5 points (-110 at bet365)

Prop bet #2: Dimes from Dana

The Sky are doing a great job flipping defense into offense in the opening month of the schedule. 

Chicago sits third in points off turnovers (20.8 per game) and faces a Sparks team giving up the most points off turnovers (21.0) an outing. That transition attack tops the WNBA in fastbreak points (15.4) as well, and point guard Dana Evans is at the wheel, dishing out four or more assists in four of five games this season.

Los Angeles sits among the bottom teams in defense and is allowing 20.3 assists per contest — fourth most in the WNBA. The Sparks will be feeling the grind of the road tonight, with this being their second road stop in three days after playing at Indiana on Tuesday.

Evans' assist total is at 3.5 with the Over juiced to -135. However, player projections call for 4.25 dimes, which should have the Over 3.5 priced around -150, and the matchup leads to a higher ceiling if the Sky can get out and run. 

Dana Evans prop: Over 3.5 assists (-135 at bet365)

Prop bet #3: Fight a Fever

The first month of the 2024 season has been a roller coaster for Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith. 

The No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft has gone from being a starter to coming off the bench in the wake of a social media controversy in which she criticized Indiana head coach Christie Sides.

Whatever the reason for Smith’s decrease in playing time — watching her minutes go from 25-27 to just 19 — Sides has no choice but to put Smith back in the starting rotation and give her floor time tonight. 

The Fever are down center Temi Fagbenle (who took Smith’s spot in the lineup) as well as reserve guard Erica Wheeler. That leaves just seven healthy players for this showdown with Seattle.

These teams played last week and Smith was a force on the boards, collecting 11 rebounds in 26 minutes with fellow forward Aliyah Boston limited due to foul trouble. Now with Fagbenle out for three weeks, Smith is once again needed to clean the glass.

Player projections for Smith sit north of eight rebounds with a ceiling of nine boards over 27 minutes of action. That’s more than enough to toppled her rebounding prop of 7.5 O/U — especially if Smith in hungry to prove her worth after riding the pine the past three games.

NaLyssa Smith prop: Over 7.5 rebounds (-130 at BetMGM)