🗽 Layup Lines: New York sinks Seattle

Happy Saturday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA.

•  Programming note: I’m off tomorrow to finish moving and will see you back here Monday!

This 466 word newsletter should take less than 2 minutes to read.

Sparks, Storm disappoint

• The big story of the night was Rhyne Howard scoring 37 points and tying the league record for 3-pointers made in a game with nine for the second time this season.

  • The Dream have now won six of their last seven and if they can win their last two regular season games against the Sun, will finish with 30 wins for the first time in franchise history.

• In other news, the Sparks giving up 104 points on a night they desperately needed a win is pretty on brand for their season, as is Seattle dropping a winnable home game to the shorthanded Liberty after being up at halftime. One of these teams is going to get the No. 8 seed by default despite some pathetic performances down the stretch.

• And there’s a lot more to say here, but the Sky continue to be an unserious organization that talks out of both sides of their mouth. Suspending Angel Reese for just the first half of a meaningless game is hopefully a sign we get to watch her play somewhere else next year.

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Playoff push

• The Liberty are getting close to locking in the No. 5 seed after winning last night, which makes the race to avoid 4th very intriguing.

  • And the Fever can now clinch the No. 7 seed or better with a win tomorrow.

Today’s games

• After splitting a pair of unders last night to go 1-1, we’re 86-99 this season and have $153 remaining to wager.

• There are two games today on League Pass — Phoenix @ Connecticut (1:00pm) and Minnesota @ Golden State (8:30pm). Let’s hit both of them:

  • We take unders for day games in the desert.

    • Bet: Phoenix / Connecticut under 161.5 total points scored, $50 to win $45

  • This is Golden State’s last regular season home game of the year, and the Ballhalla crowd not being at the Chase Center for the first round of the playoffs means it should be bananas in there tonight.

    • Bet: Valkyries moneyline (+220), $50 to win $110.

Graphic to go

• Maya Moore, Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles get inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame tonight at 7pm ET on NBA TV.

  • This profile on the enigma that is Maya Moore was excellent.

Layup Lines is written 100% by a human being. I very much appreciate you reading and will see you back here Monday.

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor