Best WNBA Player Props Today: Count On Courtney

Prop bet #1: Vandersloot rules

The offense has gone sour for the New York Liberty during the team’s two-game skid, but a few days to practice and iron out the wrinkles should work wonders. 

New York’s biggest fault has been a lack of spacing and ball movement, and no one moves the ball better than veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot. She’s averaging 5.5 assists this season and still recorded six and seven helpers in those losses, despite the Liberty’s poor offensive efforts.

New York welcomes a road-weary Phoenix Mercury squad to the Barclays Center tonight. The Mercury, who got thumped at Connecticut on Tuesday, allow a league-high 21.2 assists per game to opponents. Last night, the Sun registered an assist on 23 of their 27 made field goal attempts.

WNBA player projections for Vandersloot call for between 5.5 and 7.3 assists on Wednesday. Given Phoenix could once again be down to eight healthy players with a game total that is climbing, New York is poised for plenty of points. That equals assists from the Liberty's top playmaker.

Courtney Vandersloot prop: Over 5.5 Assists (-130 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #2: Not in the cards

Alana Smith has already proven to be a valuable addition to the Minnesota Lynx. She’s averaging 16 points in her first five games, a notable uptick from her career-high scoring rate of 9.2 points for the Chicago Sky in 2023.

Smith’s best efforts have come against softer foes, however. The Lynx started the season against a revamped Seattle Storm team, with Smith putting up 22 and 16 points against a franchise figuring out its new dynamic (Storm had 42 turnovers in those two games). She dropped 17 points on Atlanta last Sunday, facing the second-worst defense in the WNBA. 

Against the likes of New York and Connecticut, Smith scored 15 and 10 points, respectively, and attempted just nine and seven shots — compared to 10+ field goal attempts in her other three outings.

Las Vegas doesn’t give up anything easy, ranking among the stingiest teams in points allowed off turnovers and second-chance buckets — two areas Smith and the Lynx have benefitted from during this hot start.

Smith will also draw defensive duties on Vegas star A’Ja Wilson, which will take up a ton of energy and present possible foul trouble, with Wilson drawing the third most free-throw attempts in the league.

Projections for Smith sit short of 12 points for Wednesday’s home date, giving value to go Under her scoring prop of 13.5 Over/Under.

Alana Smith prop: Under 13.5 Points (-105 at bet365)

Prop bet #3: TC takes DC

Forward Tina Charles is giving the Atlanta Dream just what they wanted from the veteran: a shot in the arm offensively. Charles is averaging more than 13 points in just shy of 30 minutes of floor time per game, shooting a solid 48% from the floor. 

Charles takes on a youthful Washington frontcourt tonight, battling Shakira Austin and Aaliyah Edwards inside. Austin is back with the team after missing the last game due to personal reasons but is still on a minutes restriction as she heals from a hip injury.

The Mystics are solid defensively, but there’s a soft spot inside the paint. Washington is allowing more than 36 points per game inside the key and was busted for 44 PITP in the loss to Seattle last time out.

The 6-foot-4 Charles not only has great touch around the rim but is a beast on the boards, hauling down two offensive rebounds an outing. She’s averaging 3.3 second-chance points and 7.5 PITP, giving life to her scoring props tonight.

Player projections for Charles sit close to 15 points tonight, which looked good when stacked up against her scoring prop of 13.5 O/U. 

Tina Charles prop: Over 13.5 Points (-115 at DraftKings)