WNBA Best Bets (August 1): Aces vs. Sky, Liberty vs. Mercury Odds & Predictions

Surprisingly, there are just two WNBA games on Saturday, and both relatively early. To start, it'll be the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and Chicago Sky tipping at 1 p.m. Eastern on CBS. The Aces have opened the second half of the season 2-0 and arrive after a solid win over the New York Liberty. The Sky, who may be sellers at the deadline, opened the second half with a six-point win over Connecticut.

(Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

The second game will be at 3 p.m. and will be televised on ABC, as the Liberty head to the Valley of the Sun to face the Phoenix Mercury in a battle of playoff hopefuls. Though it sounds strange to say this about the Liberty, they're in eighth place in the standings, the last playoff spot. Five games back in ninth place are the Mercury, adding intrigue to this matinee showdown.

WNBA Best Bets for August 1

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Las Vegas Aces at Chicago Sky

• Spread: Las Vegas -6.5 (-104) | Chicago +6.5 (-118)
• Moneyline: Las Vegas (-260) | Chicago (+205)
• Total: O/U 183.5 (-114/-106)

WNBA Betting Odds via FanDuel

The Aces opened the second half of the season with back-to-back home wins, a 98-83 victory over the Portland Fire on Tuesday and then Thursday's 104-99 win over New York. In the two wins, the Aces' 10-point average win margin has been fueled by a .545 shooting clip, including .440 from 3-point range. They also averaged 23 helpers per game, as they're assisting on 69.6 percent of their made field goals (23 of 33).

And while it may be a short sample size, A'ja Wilson is leading all players out of the break with 30.5 points per game, with Jackie Young close behind, tied for fifth place, with 27.0 points per contest.

I know the Sky have improved since June 24. They rank third in scoring with 94.9 PPG, but they're sitting behind the Aces, who are scoring 95.5 PPG during the same stretch. Plus, during that same timespan, the Sky are allowing the fifth-highest 89.7 PPG.

My Best Bet Prediction: Las Vegas Aces -6.5 (-104)

• The Aces have won the last seven meetings with Chicago. That includes the first two of this season, both by eight points, which would cover today's number. Las Vegas is 11-3 SU on the road this season. In addition, it's covered six of its last nine away from home.

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New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury

• Spread: New York -2.5 (-118) | Phoenix +2.5 (-104)
• Moneyline: New York (-152) | Phoenix (+124)
• Total: O/U 176.5 (-112/-108)

I might be more comfortable if the Liberty opened their road trip in Phoenix, rather than Los Angeles, but in playing their third road game in five nights, and following a game in Las Vegas, this could be trouble. Forget for a moment that it appears coach Chris DeMarco knows what we all assume. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has her bags packed for the moment she is traded, and the defense has seemingly checked out, too.

The Liberty might be 1-1 in the first two games of this trip, but they've also allowed 109 and 104 points in those games. If the Sparks' defense wasn't as bad as it's been, the Liberty wouldn't have scored 113 in the four-point win. New York has allowed triple figures in three of their last five games. Since July 11, the Liberty have allowed a league-worst 99.4 PPG.

Phoenix, which was swept in last year's WNBA Finals, would love to get back to the postseason, but needs to climb in the standings. That means win the rest of the way. Impossible? That's what they said about the Aces last season, when they closed the campaign 16-0. Nothing is impossible, and the Mercury do ride into this one on a three-game win streak, including a 91-89 victory over the best defensive team in the league, the Golden State Valkyries.

My Best Bet Prediction: Phoenix Mercury +2.5 (-104)

• This sudden turnaround for the Mercury has been something many of us were anticipating earlier this season.  However, they couldn't get out of their own way while being outscored by an average score of 87.6 to 83.3 and shooting just .439 from the floor. Now, during their three-game win streak, the Mercury are outscoring teams 83.0 to 78.0, and they're shooting .458 with 22 assists per game. At the other end, they're holding teams to .397 shooting. In playing their third game out of the break, and this one being earlier in the day, the Liberty, who have failed to cover six in a row, are going to lose steam in the second half and could lose this game outright. Take the home dog.

W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Analyst at Ballislife Bets. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.