WNBA Best Bets Today (June 20): First Basket Player Props & Predictions

The WNBA is back, and there are three games scheduled for today's slate on June 20. The Fever and Dream will meet again, while the Storm and Mercury will match up in the Valley. The Sky will head to the Lone Star state to take on the Wings. Let's take a look at my first basket scorer player prop best bets, odds, and predictions for Saturday.

(Photo by Dave Eggen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Today, we get another matchup that features Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The Indiana Fever (9-6, 3-3 away) will match up against the Atlanta Dream (10-4, 4-2 home) for the third time this season.

The season series is split 1-1 after Atlanta's 108-101 victory on Thursday. Now both teams will head back to Atlanta, where the Dream are tabbed as 5.5-point favorites on FanDuel.

Next up, the Seattle Storm (3-13, 1-7 away) will face the Phoenix Mercury (4-12, 1-6 home). This matchup will feature two teams with the WNBA's worst records, and they will meet for the second time this season. The Mercury won the first game, defeating the Storm 72-68 on June 3. Today, the Mercury are 7.5-point favorites at home.

Last, the Chicago Sky (4-10, 3-4 away) will match up against the Dallas Wings (9-6, 5-2 away). These teams will meet for the second time as the Wings won the first matchup, 99-89 on May 20. Exactly one month later, the Wings will host the Sky as large 9.5-point favorites.

If you're hoping to find more sports and WNBA betting promotions, Ballislife Bets has put together a list of the best sports betting offers here.

WNBA Betting Odds And Schedule For Saturday, June 20 (FanDuel)

If you're betting on the WNBA today, welcome in!

ABC will broadcast the following: The Fever and Dream will tip off at 1 p.m. and the Storm and Mercury at 3 p.m. ET.

The Sky and Wings will conclude the night at 8 p.m. ET. This matchup will air on CBA, Fubo, and Paramount+.

Let's take a look at my best bets, first basket scorer props, odds, and predictions for Saturday, June 20. One of my favorite player props in basketball, let's see who will score the first basket for all three WNBA games today.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

WNBA First Basket Scorer Best Bets (June 20)

• Rhyne Howard First Basket Scorer (+650 FanDuel)
• Dominique Malonga First Basket Scorer (+480 FanDuel)
• Skylar Diggins First Basket Scorer (+480 FanDuel)

You can parlay these picks for +25130 odds on FanDuel. Please bet responsibly. Bettors can wager $5 to win $1,256.50.

Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream First Basket Bets

Rhyne Howard (+650)

I locked in Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard to score the first basket (+650) against the Indiana Fever.

It's the third time both teams will face off, as Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese have split tip wins 1-1.  Just two days ago, Reese won the tip, and Rhyne Howard missed a 3-point shot off the jump. However, it was Howard who grabbed the offensive rebound that led to a Jordin Canada putback.

I like Howard here for several reasons. She was heavily involved in the possession of the last game, and she recently had her way with the matchup against Caitlin Clark and company as she delivered 16 points in the win.

Over the last five games, the Dream boast a 40% tip-win rate compared to the Fever's 20%. On average, it takes 2.6 shots to make the first field goal, and the Dream is 100% and 2-0 on first field-goal attempts against the Fever this season.

Howard is in a great spot here to score the first basket as the Fever have given up the most first field goals (8) to guards 53.3% of the time. Howard is a three-level scorer, and opponents thrive on layups on first baskets against Indiana (66.7%).

WNBA First Basket Betting Prediction: Rhyne Howard (+650 FanDuel)

In 2026, Howard started in all games for head coach Karl Smesko, and took the first shot attempt 30.8% of the time. Not to mention that she leads the Dream with a 23.1% first game field goal attempt rate and six made this season.

• I'm taking Rhyne Howard to score the first basket today. This player prop has great value, and Howard is a high-usage, reliable, high-volume scorer. The Dream have scored the first basket twice against the Fever, and Angel Reese has 14 jumps on the year. Given that Reese has a 57.1% jump-ball win rate, I'll take Howard, who often gets a layup as her first shot, but has scored the first basket over 66% of the time. Over 71% of the first shots made against the Fever have been layups, and over 57% have been made by guards.

Seattle Storm vs. Phoenix Mercury First Basket Bets

Dominique Malonga (+480)

For my second-best bet, I'm taking Dominique Malonga to score the first basket for the Seattle Storm.

In their first matchup, Natasha Mack won the tip against Awa Fam. That was until Flau'jae Johnson got the steal, which resulted in a first basket and a 3-pointer after missing a layup.

Head-to-Head, the Mercury won the first tip, but the Storm will have both Malonga and Fam in the lineup. Seattle has some serious size. I would be surprised if they didn't win the jump-ball here.

Overall, the Storm have won the tip 50% of the time compared to the Mercury's 43.8%.  In fact, Seattle's first point rate is 56.3%, which is very efficient.

Phoenix has allowed 56.3% of first scorer points to guards, but let's switch it up. Malonga is versatile, a player who can play the four and five. In 2026, the Mercury have allowed forwards to score the first basket 31.3% of the time.

This is the first time Malonga will face the Mercury due to concussion protocol. However, she's been on a tear, scoring 15.8 points in 2026. In the last game against Portland, Malonga erupted for 26 points and 11 rebounds. She may be 6'6", but she moves and plays similarly to a guard who can post up.

WNBA First Basket Betting Prediction: Dominique Malonga (+480)

This season, Malonga has won 4-of-7 tip attempts and boasts a 14.3% first-field-goal rate. Mind you, she's been out for some of the season and on limited minutes prior. Since she's been healthy, Malonga has scored three first baskets, second to Johnson and Natisha Hiedeman.

Phoenix has primarily allowed 43.8% of first shots to be jump shots and 37.5% to 3-pointers. Not to mention over 42% of the first shots against Seattle have come from forwards.

• I'm taking Dominique Malonga to score the first basket. She has the size advantage against the Mercury and, despite her injuries, is among the top 10 WNBA players in first baskets scored.  Plus, most of her first baskets have been jump shots! Mack is a solid defender, but let's grab Malonga here at +480.

Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings First Basket Bets

Skylar Diggins (+480)

For my third-best bet, I locked in Skylar Diggins to score the first basket for the Chicago Sky.

The wins may not be coming for the Sky, but Diggins has been on a tear for Chicago. Scoring 17+ points in three straight games, she's averaging 19 points over that span.

Head-to-head in 2026, Kamilla Cardoso won the tip, but it was the Wings and Alanna Smith who scored the first basket in their last matchup.

Cardoso has the height advantage at 6'7". I'm fully expecting her to win the tip here. Also, it was possible that Chicago would have scored the first basket, but rookie Gabriela Jaquez missed the first 3-pointer of the game.

Diggins did attempt a shot within the first minute of the last game, although she missed a two-point jumper.

WNBA First Basket Betting Prediction: Skylar Diggins (+480)

I've been impressed that Chicago has won the first tip 64.3% of the time this season and has a first-field goal rate of 71.4%. This season, the Wings are allowing 33.3% of first baskets to guards, and 60% of those come from layups. The Sky loves to push the pace and get buckets off turnovers. I like Diggins to punch first here.

• I'm taking Skylar Diggins to score the first basket today. She takes 23.1% of the team's first field goal attempts, which may increase now that Sydney Taylor has replaced Jacy Sheldon in the starting lineup. Diggins has scored two first baskets on the season, and a majority of those have come from layups. Diggins ranks among the top 20 in first basket scorers and is shooting 55% from three and 45.2% from the field over the last two games. In her last matchup against Dallas, Diggins put up 15 points in 34 minutes.