Layup Lines: Wake and ball

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

• We went 2-0 yesterday with our bets but not in the fun way, as a bad call at the end of Washington - Chicago hit the under by half a point and A’ja Wilson leaving with a wrist injury handed the game to New York.

• I’m nervous about that wrist. Didn’t look good.

This 494 word newsletter should take about 2 minutes to read.

📣 Two games, two thoughts

• Chicago and Washington combining to shoot 56 free throws in front of the children on Camp Day is crazy. The game was a boring slog and was decided by free throws. No thanks.

• The Aces are aggressively mediocre without A’ja and the Liberty ran away with it in the fourth quarter despite another rough shooting night. Breanna Stewart is no longer a reliable 3-point threat (29.5% last season, 20.7% in 2025) while Sabrina Ionescu is under 40% from the floor over her last seven games. New York obviously misses Jonquel Jones but the shooting has been a real issue.

📺 Today’s games

• We’re 52-46 this season with a $108 profit on an initial $1,000 investment.

• There are games on all day today — Seattle @ Connecticut (11am ET), Golden State @ Indiana (12:00pm, NBA TV), Minnesota @ Phoenix (3:30pm) and Dallas @ Chicago (8:00pm). I like three of them:

  • Making the Storm play at 8am Pacific Time against the worst team in the league is diabolical.

    • Bet: Seattle / Connecticut under 155.5 total points scored, $50 to win $45.

  • Caitlin Clark is back for the first time since the end of June with a groin injury and that has steamed this line up to a large number.

    • Bet: Golden State / Indiana under 166 total points scored, $50 to win $45.

  • I’ve often been wrong about Phoenix this season, but with Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper out with injuries and DeWanna Bonner not in uniform yet, they don’t have much firepower.

    • Bet: Lynx -7.5, $50 to win $47.

  • Even with Angel Reese on a tear, I would not recommend watching the tired Sky and beat up Wings.

⭐️ All-Star lineups set

• Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier picked their teams last night and it went pretty similar to the mock draft Ross Terrell and I did yesterday. Clark is guard heavy and Phee is stacked in the post. Should be a good matchup on July 19!

  • By the way, 63% of you voted for Ross’ team. I guess it is technically Layup Lines, not Loyalty Lines, but I will remember this.

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

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor