🌵 Layup Lines: Triple-double Thomas

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA. I hope you’re feeling as good as you look today.

This 467 word newsletter should take about 2 minutes to read.

🤒 Fever sweep Storm

• This is not the first time I’ve typed the following this year, but Seattle should be embarrassed about last night. Losing by 20 and getting swept in the regular season by a team you’re jostling with to make the playoffs is one thing, but the Fever are relying on multiple veteran hardship signings and had lost four of five.

  • Aliyah Boston carried Indiana last night with 27 points and nine rebounds, but the Fever will need Caitlin Clark back to really be competitive in the playoffs.

• In last night’s other game, Alyssa Thomas continued her incredible first year in Phoenix by putting up 12 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists for her seventh triple-double of the season, breaking her own single-season record of six.

  • The 92-84 victory was a nice blueprint for the Mercury on winning with a balanced offense and taking what a (bad) defense gives you.

Thanks to 1440 Media for sponsoring this newsletter.

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!

📺 Today’s games

• After once again misreading Seattle to go 1-1 last night, we’re 79-90 this season and have $291 remaining to wager.

• There are two games today — Las Vegas @ Atlanta (7:30pm ET, NBA TV) and Connecticut @ Dallas (8:00pm, League Pass).

  • The first game should be a great one. Atlanta needs a win here for playoff seeding purposes and Vegas is going for 12 straight. The Dream have also lost both games this season to the Aces and even in the face of this win streak, dropping the third at home would be surprising.

    • Bet: Atlanta -2.5, $50 to win $44.

  • The Sun have looked like a different team for the past two weeks and the Wings’ defense is as bad as ever.

    • Bet: Connecticut / Dallas over 163 points scored, $50 to win $46.

👀 Standings update

• Fortunately for the Storm, they still might make the playoffs by default. The ninth place Sparks have allowed 90+ points on defense in four of their last five and the 10th place Mystics are 3-7 in their last 10.

  • Doesn’t anyone want to get blown out by Minnesota in the first round?

  • And while the majority of the opening series won’t be close, the Liberty earning a 4 or 5 seed and having to play a team like Phoenix or Las Vegas would be a lot of fun.

🤯 Amazing AT stat to go

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

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor