Layup Lines: Unpacking the underdogs

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA. Wherever you are today, I hope your vision is clear.

This 498 word newsletter should take about 2 minutes to read.

Recapping last night

• All four underdogs won on Tuesday!

  • The Mystics are the most confident team in the league right now, especially because Shakira Austin is showing out with more playing time.

  • It’s already been a messy season, but Angel Reese as the point forward / facilitator is really opening things up for the Sky.

  • Not to take anything away from Dallas’ win, but the Dream shot 23% from the floor last night, the worst shooting game by any team since 2010. Hard to win a game that way.

  • Beating a good Storm team while getting just six points from Caitlin Clark is a great sign for ascending superstar Aliyah Boston and the rest of the Fever, who just announced they’re ending the DeWanna Bonner saga by releasing her outright and signing Aari McDonald. Not sure a short guard is Indiana’s most pressing need but McDonald definitely brings speed and energy.

    • According to Annie Costabile, teams have been advised to not sign Bonner on waivers because she wants to go to Phoenix. You don’t say…

Top plays:

• How did Shakira Austin make this?

• Spin Cycle Paige

• The best game of Kamilla Cardoso’s season

Today’s games

• After going 2-1 with our bets last night, we’re 42-38 this season with a $53 profit off an initial $1,000 budget.

• There are two games tonight that start after my bed time — New York @ Golden State (10pm) and Connecticut @ Las Vegas (10pm, NBA TV).

  • The Valkyries are still not getting enough respect at home, especially with Sabrina Ionescu being a game time decision.

    • Bet: Golden State +8.5, $50 to win $46.

  • The Sun were unwatchable even with Marina Mabrey, but her knee injury moves them into borderline relegation territory. They are 19 point underdogs tonight. Nineteen! Somebody please save Tina Charles.

    • Bet: Connecticut / Las Vegas under 159.5 total points scored, $50 to win $46.

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Graphic to go

Sportico released its list of franchise valuations yesterday. The story here is obviously Golden State, which according to Sportico is the first $500 million women's team in pro sports. The Valks’ projected $70 million in 2025 revenue would be double what any WNBA franchise brought in last year and more than half of the teams in Major League Soccer.

• It’s also worth nothing that every franchise is up more than 100% over the past 12 months.

• And can you imagine what the Sparks could be worth if they were owned by people who care about women’s basketball?

Layup Lines is written 100% by human beings and we appreciate your support. If you’re still reading, you must like this newsletter enough to share it with a friend. We’ll see you back here tomorrow!

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor