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🌵 Layup Lines: Griner returns to Phoenix

Plus, we recap last night's big 5-game slate.

Author

Everett Cook
July 23, 2025

In partnership with

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA. It was great to have basketball back on yesterday, even if the games were a little sloppy and I went 1-2 with our bets. Don’t let me get hot!

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5 thoughts from last night

  • Best win: The Aces are getting another incredible year from A’ja Wilson and have now won three in a row for the first time this season after taking it to Atlanta.

  • Worst loss: Even with Skylar Diggins being out for personal reasons, the Storm should be embarrassed about getting rolled at home by a 7-win Wings team.

  • Top player: Jonquel Jones isn’t the first name people think of when it comes to New York’s Big 3, but she might be the most important to the team. She put up 18 points and nine rebounds in just 22 minutes in her return from an ankle injury.

  • Way-too-reactionary take: Yes, they just sent three players to the All-Star game, but the Mystics are going to miss the playoffs. The rookie wall is a real thing and a very young Washington team is now just one game up on Golden State for the 8th and final playoff spot after losing to the Sparks.

  • Random question: Around 80% of the league is set to become unrestricted free agents this summer. Will we see more midseason trades than usual this season before the Aug. 7 trade deadline?

Courtesy @wnba

Today’s games

  • We’re 60-61 this season with $736 of our initial $1,000 budget remaining to wager.

  • There’s only one game tonight — Atlanta @ Phoenix (10:00pm ET, CBSSN).

    • Making the Dream play two road games in two nights feels especially mean on Brittney Griner’s return to Phoenix for the first time as an opposing player.

      • The Mercury also have Kahleah Copper, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner playing together for the first time and got to rest at home last night.

        • Bet: Mercury -7.5, $100 to win $90

        • Bet: Game total under 164, $50 to win $45.

Thanks Claude. Full spreadsheet

Pic to go

  • Couldn’t end the newsletter without reminding why Napheesa Collier is the heavy favorite for MVP for the top-seeded Lynx — 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks last night.

Layup Lines is written 100% by human beings with visual assistance from AI tools. We very much appreciate you reading and will see you back here tomorrow.

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor