WNBA Best Bets, Predictions, Picks for Thursday, September 19

Grab your friends and your popcorn because the final day of the 2024 WNBA regular season has arrived! With most of the playoff picture set for the first round, the eighth and final seed is still up for grabs as tonight will tell who the top-seeded New York Liberty will face in the opening round. The Atlanta Dream just need a win and they’re in as they face their possible first-round opponent on NBA TV at 7 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile the Chicago Sky will hope that their playoff chances are still alive in their last matchup against the Connecticut Sun and the same for Washington Mystics who will play host to the Indiana Fever on Prime Video at 7 p.m. ET.

Our experts dive into the final regular season slate with a player prop, a couple of picks targeting the total, and a moneyline selection for Thursday night. Read below for our staff’s WNBA best bets for Thursday, September 19.

WNBA Best Bets Today

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Michael Fiddle’s Best Bet for Dream vs. Liberty”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 159.5″ league=”wnba” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/588671_dream.png” awayname=”Atlanta Dream” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/wnba/100/nyl.png” homename=”New York Liberty” date=”Thursday, Sept. 19″ time=”7 P.M. ET” network=”NBA TV” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By Michael Fiddle

This situational spot is important to understand because the game matters a ton for the Atlanta Dream, but none for the Liberty. The Dream are currently the 8th seed, tied with two other teams on the final day, but owning all the tie breakers. The Dream are in the classic “win and in” scenario. The Liberty have secured the #1 seed and best record in the WNBA and will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Liberty will either rest or drastically cut the minutes for Ionescu and Stewart, which is awesome for an under because they run the show on offense. On the other end, the Dream are going to be playing intense defense and high pressure offense. If the Dream do not win, either the Sky or Mystics winning would end their season. The Liberty are also too sound and deep to be broken down defensively. I imagine this is low scoring.

Pick: Under 159.5

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Joe Dellera’s Best Bet for Dream vs. Liberty”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Rhyne Howard 4+ Rebounds” league=”wnba” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/588671_dream.png” awayname=”Atlanta Dream” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/wnba/100/nyl.png” homename=”New York Liberty” date=”Thursday, Sept. 19″ time=”7 P.M. ET” network=”NBA TV” bookname=”FanDuel” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/122955_FanDuelSportsBook@1x.jpg” bookreviewslug=”fanduel”][/gameheader]

By Joe Dellera

The Dream are in a win and in scenario for the WNBA Playoffs against a Liberty team who has no real incentives in this game. If the Dream do win, they would then face off against this same Liberty team in the first round of the playoffs.

Howard has been solid against the Liberty from a rebounding perspective as it is and has averaged 5.2 rpg against them over the past few seasons. Additionally, she has been good on the glass of late and has exceeded this line of 3.5 rebounds in 6/10 games.

The major key here is she should see as many minutes as she can handle given the playoff implications and would be playing at a maximum effort which is one thing that raises the rebounding floor. Couple that with the thought that the Liberty might not be playing their best players the most minutes and it sets up for a few more misses against this Dream team.

I’ll grab Howard on the mini rebounds ladder with sprinkles at over 4.5 (+130 Rivers) and 6+ (+285 FD).

Pick: Rhyne Howard 4+ Rebounds

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Bryan Fonseca’s Best Bet for Wings vs. Aces”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Aces ML” league=”wnba” awaylogo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2023/07/dallas-wings-updated-logo-2023.png” awayname=”Dallas Wings” homelogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/757250_Aces.png” homename=”Las Vegas Aces” date=”Thursday, Sept. 19″ time=”10 P.M. ET” network=”League Pass” bookname=”DraftKings ” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/477013_DraftKings@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”draftkings”][/gameheader]

By Bryan Fonseca

I don’t know who is playing in this game, and I kinda don’t care.

Just give me the Las Vegas Aces as home underdogs.

A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young are all day to day, but this game doesn’t mean anything for the Wings either, who haven’t played a meaningful game in what feels like weeks.

Sure, Arike Ogunbowale can and may go off, but that doesn’t guarantee you anything. Without their core four, Tiffany Hayes, Alysha Clark, Megan Gustafson, Kiah Stokes, Kate Martin and Syd Colson may be available.

Role players at home? Good enough for me.

Pick: Aces ML

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[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Michael Fiddle’s Best Bet for Storm vs. Mercury”][/subheader]

[gameheader haspick=”true” picktext=”Under 160.5″ league=”wnba” awaylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/419599_Storm.png” awayname=”Seattle Storm” homelogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/207903_Mercury.png” homename=”Phoenix Mercury” date=”Thursday, Sept. 19″ time=”10 P.M. ET” network=”League Pass” bookname=”BetMGM” bookprimarylogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/779359_BetMGM800x200@1x.png” bookreviewslug=”betmgm”][/gameheader]

By Michael Fiddle

Pick: Under 160.5