The Bum's 2017 WNBA Picks-Trends-News !

[StarDust Bum]

wnba may's record:

date w-l-t % units record

05/18/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%................. - 0.50
05/17/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50


best bets:

05/18/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50
05/17/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Friday, May 19


Washington @ Los Angeles

Game 659-660
May 19, 2017 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
109.732
Los Angeles
121.255
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Los Angeles
by 11 1/2
156
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Los Angeles
by 4 1/2
160
Dunkel Pick:
Los Angeles
(-4 1/2); Under

Atlanta @ Chicago

Game 657-658
May 19, 2017 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
108.963
Chicago
111.496
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago
by 2 1/2
167
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Atlanta
by 1 1/2
157 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago
(+1 1/2); Over

Phoenix @ San Antonio

Game 655-656
May 19, 2017 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Phoenix
111.789
San Antonio
104.016
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Phoenix
by 8
150
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Phoenix
by 6
153 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Phoenix
(-6); Under




WNBA
Long Sheet

Friday, May 19

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX (1 - 1) at SAN ANTONIO (0 - 2) - 5/19/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 14-33 ATS (-22.3 Units) in May games since 1997.
SAN ANTONIO is 16-5 ATS (+10.5 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 4-2 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 6-1 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATLANTA (1 - 0) at CHICAGO (0 - 1) - 5/19/2017, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in road games when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 5-3 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 5-3 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON (1 - 0) at LOS ANGELES (1 - 0) - 5/19/2017, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 295-351 ATS (-91.1 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 57-87 ATS (-38.7 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 52-75 ATS (-30.5 Units) in home games against Eastern conference opponents since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 52-75 ATS (-30.5 Units) in home games in non-conference games since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 88-118 ATS (-41.8 Units) after a win by 10 points or more since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 165-212 ATS (-68.2 Units) after scoring 75 points or more since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 4-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 4-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




WNBA

Friday, May 19

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:00 PM
PHOENIX vs. SAN ANTONIO
Phoenix is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Phoenix is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games on the road
San Antonio is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
San Antonio is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home

8:30 PM
ATLANTA vs. CHICAGO
Atlanta is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Chicago is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Chicago's last 10 games at home

10:30 PM
WASHINGTON vs. LOS ANGELES
Washington is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Washington is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games
Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Washington
Los Angeles is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games when playing at home against Washington


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mercury (1-1) at Stars (0-2)
Date: May 19, 2017 8:00 PM EDT

The San Antonio Stars hope playing at home makes a winning difference when they host the Phoenix Mercury on Friday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The Stars (0-2) had the worst record in the WNBA last season and has stumbled out of the gate in 2017, losing on the road at New York (73-64) and Washington (89-74) on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. San Antonio's Monique Currie scored a career-high 31 points in the loss to Washington after pouring in 23 versus New York.

San Antonio hopes that rookie Kelsey Plum -- the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history in her four years at the University of Washington -- is able to play Friday. Plum was WNBA's No. 1 draft pick, but she missed the first two games after injuring her ankle during preseason practice.

"It was a freak thing -- I never missed a game in my college career," Plum said. "It's frustrating. We'll get our pieces back. I'm trying to be patient, but it's not a good virtue of mine. I'm walking around in rehab doing different stuff, swimming twice a day."

The Stars are also without star guard Kayla McBride, their leading scorer last season, who is still in Turkey with her team Yakin Dogu, which is playing a best-of-five series for the Turkish League championship.

"I think we can build on the two losses -- we played hard, but we didn't play smart," Stars coach Vickie Johnson said. "We hustled and played every possession like it was the last. We are trying to change the culture of this team but it can't be done overnight. Right now, we just want to play and have fun and learn to trust each other."

Phoenix (1-1) heads to the road for the first time after splitting its initial two games at home. The Mercury lost to the Dallas Wings 68-58 on Sunday before rebounding for an 85-62 victory over Indiana on Wednesday behind Brittney Griner's career-high 32 points and 10 rebounds.

Griner shot 13-of-15 from the floor and now has scored at least 15 points in a career-best seven straight regular-season games going back to 2016. She scored 21 points in the first half as Phoenix used a 15-0 run in the second quarter to help build a 52-29 halftime lead and cruised home.

"My teammates got me into it," Griner said. "Credit to them, I can't get it in to myself. It does feel good putting that underneath my belt. It was like it's going to be a defensive night for me then it just started coming."

The Mercury is off to a better start than last season when it lost its first four games.

Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi, who on Tuesday signed a multi-year contract extension with the Mercury, had six rebounds in the win over Indiana, surpassing 1,500 for her career. She is the only WNBA player with 7,000 points, 1,500 rebounds and 1,500 assists. Taurasi also passed Katie Smith for the most 3-point attempts in WNBA history.

"That opener was really our third preseason game," Taurasi said. "Basketball is all about synergy and rhythm and knowing where the next person is going to be. To have that switch flipped in 48 hours means this team was ready and focused and all the things (coach) Sandy (Brondello) wanted us to do."

WNB HEAD TO HEAD

Sep 18, 2016 Score ATS Results
PHO « 81 Cover: 9
SA 65 Under: 146
Tools: Recaps

Jul 16, 2016 Score ATS Results
SA 64 Under: 147
PHO « 83 Cover: 11
Tools: Recaps

Jun 9, 2016 Score ATS Results
SA 75 Over: 165
PHO « 90 Cover: 3
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dream (1-0) at Sky (0-1)
Date: May 19, 2017 8:30 PM EDT

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Chicago Sky will present a new look as they play their 12th WNBA home opener on Friday vs. the Atlanta Dream at Allstate Arena.

There's a new coach/general manager (Amber Stock) plus a scattering of familiar faces, including veteran guards Tamara Young and Cappie Pondexter.

There's also no more Elena Delle Donne.

Delle Donne, the team's leading scorer (21.5 points) and former WNBA most valuable player, was traded to Washington in the offseason.

Six-year head coach Pokey Chatman, who guided Chicago to the 2014 WNBA Finals, was also let go.

But the 2017 group and new regime is coming together.

"We've had the time in practice to get our chemistry down, and my major thing is communicating," Young said. "It doesn't matter if you have new coaches or new players. If you communicate and practice, the chemistry will come."

The Sky (0-1) dropped a 70-61 decision to Minnesota in last Sunday's season opener as Young collected 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

Chicago's roster currently features five returning players, including Imani Boyette, Jessica Breland and Cheyenne Parker along with Pondexter and Young. Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot are also expected back after they complete international competition.

Pondexter was the team's No. 2 scorer last season (12.9 points) while Young averaged 8.5 points.

Stock spent two seasons as a Los Angeles Sparks assistant coach but also has an extensive basketball background over the past 18 years.

"I don't have expectations to make or not make the playoffs," Stocks told the Chicago Tribune recently. "My expectations are for us to take one game at a time and compete. If we concentrate on the process, the process of being the best we can be ... the playoffs and beyond will take care of themselves."

The Dream (1-0) are looking for their second road win after an 81-74 season-opening triumph at Connecticut.

But Atlanta is without top scorer and playmaker Angel McCoughtry, who announced she is sitting out the 2017 season.

"After much thought and consideration, I have decided to take some time off," McCoughtry said in statement in January. "I know this decision will allow me to come back and play to the best of my ability."

That leaves on-court leadership responsibilities to players like shooting guard Tiffany Hayes, now in her sixth WNBA season.

Hayes hit 11 of 12 free throws and scored 19 points, including a late 3-pointer, as the Dream beat the Sun for the sixth straight time last Saturday.

Atlanta was 17-17 during the 2016 season and was eliminated by the Sky in the second round of the playoffs.

Chicago is coming off an 18-16 record in 2016, the third-best in franchise history, and reached the WNBA playoff semifinals before being eliminated.


WNB HEAD TO HEAD

Sep 25, 2016 Score ATS Results
ATL 98 Over: 206
CHI « 108 Cover: 8.5
Tools: Recaps

Aug 26, 2016 Score ATS Results
ATL 82 Over: 172
CHI « 90 Cover: 3
Tools: Recaps

Jun 17, 2016 Score ATS Results
CHI 97 Over: 198
ATL « 101 Cover: 8.5
Tools: Recaps

May 22, 2016 Score ATS Results
CHI 81 Under: 168
ATL « 87 Cover: 10.5
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mystics (1-0) at Sparks (1-0)
Date: May 19, 2017 10:30 PM EDT

The reigning WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks will get their first look at one of the league's premier players in a new uniform Friday night when the Washington Mystics visit Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles (1-0) opened the season with a 78-68 victory over the Seattle Storm last weekend. Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 WNBA MVP, scored 23 points in the win for the Sparks.

Newcomer Odyssey Sims, acquired in a trade with the Dallas Wings, came off the bench to record 20 points and six assists. Chelsea Gray had 14 points and eight assists.

Washington (1-0) posted an 89-74 victory over the San Antonio Stars in its season opener. Elena Delle Donne scored 24 points in her debut for the Mystics, who acquired the 2015 WNBA MVP in an offseason trade with the Chicago Sky. Tayler Hill scored 15 points and Emma Meesseman had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Delle Donne was limited to 23 minutes due to foul trouble but seemed to fit in nicely when she was on the floor, making 8 of 12 field-goal attempts.

Kristi Toliver, who left Los Angeles after the Sparks defeated the Minnesota Lynx to win last year's WNBA championship, was held to eight points on 2-of-6 shooting.

Delle Donne, who requested a trade after four seasons in Chicago, said she was happy with her new surroundings.

"This is exactly what I was hoping for and even more," Delle Donne told ESPN.com. "I knew coming here this team had chemistry. But when you get here and you feel it and experience it, it's even better than I imagined. It's so fun to play with so much talent and so many options."

The Sparks, who also won WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002, raised their newest championship banner before their game against Seattle. They postponed their ring ceremony until Friday due to the absences of Candace Parker, Jantel Lavender and Essence Carson, who were still playing for their respective teams in Hungary. All three were expected to return to Los Angeles in time for Friday's game.

"It's just part of our league," Sparks coach Brian Agler told the Los Angeles Times. "It's part of the dynamics of women's basketball at the pro level. It's not like that on the men's side. On the women's side, they're playing overseas. They come back and they get integrated at different times."


WNB HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 22, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS « 95 Cover: 11
WAS 75 Over: 170
Tools: Recaps

Jul 10, 2016 Score ATS Results
WAS 82 Over: 175
LOS « 93 Cover: 1.5
Tools: Recaps

May 20, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS « 97 Cover: 23
WAS 67 Over: 164
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, MAY 19

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

PHO at SA 08:00 PM

PHO -8.0

U 151.5

ATL at CHI 08:30 PM

ATL -1.5

U 154.5

WAS at LA 10:30 PM

LA -5.0

O 164.5

[StarDust Bum]

Friday, May 19

FINAL

Phoenix Mercury 78
San Antonio Stars 72

FINAL
Atlanta Dream 91
Chicago Sky 83

FINAL
Washington Mystics 89
Los Angeles Sparks 99

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, May 20

7:00 PM ET

Connecticut Sun
Indiana Fever

8:00 PM ET
Minnesota Lynx
Dallas Wings


WNBA May's Record:

date w-l-t % units record

05/19/2017................ 4-2-0................ 66.67%................ + 9.00
05/18/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%................. - 0.50
05/17/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50

Totals:.......................6 - 4..................60.00%..................+8.00

best bets:
05/19/2017.................4 -2...................66.66%.................+9.00
05/18/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50
05/17/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50

Totals:........................6 - 4.................60.00%..................+8.00

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

— Rory McIlroy has back/rib injuries, has pulled out of the BMW tourney next week. His status for the US Open is up in the air.

— Cavaliers 130, Celtics 86— Cleveland led 72-31 at the half— 72-31!!!!

— Nationals, Twins are only teams with an extra base hit in every game this season.

— RIP Wayne Walker, a LB for the Lions who also their punter, then later a good announcer on TV. There was a time when punters played other positions; Walker was a very good LB.

— NASCAR driver Alric Almirola is out 8-12 weeks with a broken vertebrae after his scary accident at Bristol Motor Speedway.

— Jason deGrom pitched seven innings last nite, the first time in 18 games a Mets’ starting pitcher got an out after the sixth inning.

**********

Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind……

13) Paolo Espino is 30 years old; he’s pitched in the minor leagues for 10 years— 291 games, 191 starts, 1,304 IP. Finally, this week he got the call to the major leagues and started for Milwaukee at Wrigley Field Friday.

Imagine the emotion he felt? How excited he must’ve been? His dad flew all the way from Panama to see the game. Luckily for him, the wind was whipping hard and it was blowing in, which makes Wrigley a supreme pitchers’ park.

12) Brandon Kintzner is the Twins’ closer; he’s 32 years old, from Palo Verde HS in Las Vegas and Dixie State in Utah. Back in 2009, he was offered a chance to try out for the role of Tim Hudson in Moneyball, but chose instead to play in an independent league all-star game.

Luckily for him, the Brewers spotted him at the All-Star Game, signed him to a minor league deal and he made it to Miller Park the next year. Now he is the Twins’ closer and a good one.

11) Jose Abreu hasn’t homered in 66 plate appearances at home this year; he’s hit seven in 95 PA’s on the road. That could be weather-related; Abreu’s bat has often heated up when the weather does. Hasn’t been too warm on the south side of Chicago this spring.

10) Quick story from my days coaching Little League:

I was an assistant coach; my future ex-wife’s nephew was on the team, which wasn’t a good team. I’m warming up our starting pitcher at practice one night; he throws strikes, but didn’t throw hard, but at least he throws strikes.

After three pitches, the kid says to me, “You know, I can pitch left-handed.” I’m thinking to myself, “Kid, you can barely pitch right-handed.” But our team wasn’t good, so I tell him to throw me a couple left-handed.

Well, what do you know; the kid threw much harder, and a heavy ball— he was good!!!! I’m like, what took you so long to tell us? Now I have to break the news to our head coach without him thinking I’m pranking him.

We didn’t have a good season, but the kid did real well pitching lefty (he also was a catcher and played righty as a catcher); he would’ve made the All-Star team except his dad got transferred out-of-state for work so the family moved as soon as school got out.

Just goes to show you; keep your ears open. You never know what you might hear.

9) Anaheim Ducks’ Corey Perry has three overtime goals in the NHL playoffs this spring, the first player to do that since Maurice Richard in 1951.

8) There have been 26 overtime games in the NHL playoffs this spring; the record is 28 (1993), they had 27 in 2013. Playoff hockey is way more fun to watch than the NBA playoffs.

7) When the Las Vegas Golden Knights have their expansion draft next month (yes, the NHL has a team in Las Vegas now), the Knights will select 30 players- they have to take at least one player from every team in the league.

6) Stayed up late Thursday night watching a replay of Super Bowl XIV, from January of 1980, Rams-Steelers. Long time ago, but I had never seen the replay of that game. Rams had won seven division titles in a row, but only made the Super Bowl in ’79 after they started the season 4-5 and survived a bunch of injuries.

Some observations from the broadcast:
— Football was way different in 1980; guys got hit out of bounds a few times- no flags.
— TV graphics were obviously way worse; no game clock on the screen until the last minute.
— CBS analyst Tom Brookshier wouldn’t have lasted two weeks in today’s politically correct world. He was funny as hell and told the truth, but people today don’t always want the truth.
— The whole world is so different now; there were over 100,000 people there, doubt any of them had phones in their pockets. How many people go to games now without a cellphone?
— Rams basically played that Super Bowl at home, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It was their last year at the Coliseum before they moved to Anaheim.
— Teams substituted so much less then than they do now, from play-to-play.

5) Miami Marlins hired former big league OF Todd Hollandworth as a TV analyst this year; he is very good, and for one reason— Marlins’ broadcasts are like listening to Hollandsworth and Rich Waltz sit around and talk about ball. They’re not announcing the game as much as they’re just talking about baseball and having a good time. Very relaxed; fun to listen to.

4) My personal opinion on the NBA Draft is this: If I ran an NBA franchise and could take Lonzo Ball, I wouldn’t let his father’s antics make me pick someone else.

That is assuming I thought Ball was the best player available and fitted what my team needed. UCLA had a terrific season this past year; the kid is a really good player. NBA players are well-versed in tuning out distractions.

3) Ryan Fitzpatrick signed as a free agent QB with the Buccaneers; if he throws a pass for Tampa Bay this season, he’ll be the sixth QB in NFL history to throw a pass for seven different teams, joining: Jeff Blake, Steve Bono, Chris Chandler, Gus Frerotte and Vinny Testaverde.

2) Je’rell Springer didn’t play HS basketball last winter due to eligibility issues after he changed schools in Las Vegas, but he got a scholarship from Southern Utah anyway, turning down BYU, an unusual choice. Springer is a great get for the Big Sky’s Thunderbirds.

1) Will Nerd Power catch on in Milwaukee? Eric Sogard (he wears glasses when he plays) came up to the Brewers this week and went 10-17 (.588) in his first six games with the Crew, with two 4-hit games. This is the same guy who hit .239 in 1,210 AB’s over six years in Oakland.

Sogard was once a 2nd round draft pick by the Padres out of Arizona State; terrific fielder. Wish he had hit like this for the A’s.

My condolences to Brewers’ TV analyst Bill Schroeder, whose mom passed away this week. I lost my dad two years ago last night; miss him every day.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Saturday, May 20


Minnesota @ Dallas

Game 663-664
May 20, 2017 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
117.147
Dallas
104.522
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 12 1/2
155
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
by 8 1/2
165
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(-8 1/2); Under

Connecticut @ Indiana

Game 661-662
May 20, 2017 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Connecticut
106.144
Indiana
115.755
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Indiana
by 9 1/2
163
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Indiana
by 4 1/2
159
Dunkel Pick:
Indiana
(-4 1/2); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Saturday, May 20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONNECTICUT (0 - 1) at INDIANA (0 - 2) - 5/20/2017, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) in road games in May, June, or July games over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) after a division game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 5-2 against the spread versus CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 5-2 straight up against CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA (2 - 0) at DALLAS (1 - 0) - 5/20/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) on Saturday games over the last 3 seasons.
DALLAS is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in home games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 4-3 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 6-1 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




WNBA

Saturday, May 20

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:00 PM
CONNECTICUT vs. INDIANA
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Connecticut's last 18 games when playing Indiana
Connecticut is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Indiana is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Connecticut
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games

8:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. DALLAS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games on the road
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Dallas is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games
Dallas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sun (0-1) at Fever (0-2)
Date: May 20, 2017 7:00 PM EDT

A pair of winless teams will compete for their first victory of the season when the Indiana Fever host the Connecticut Sun on Saturday evening.

The contest marks the regular-season home opener for the Fever (0-2), who posted an 8-9 record at home last season. Indiana has dropped its first two games this season against the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury.

Connecticut (0-1) also is trying to bounce back after losing its home opener against the Atlanta Dream. The Sun will play their first road game of the season after going 6-11 away from home in 2015-16.

Connecticut second-year guard Courtney Williams will try to stay hot after making her first seven shots in Saturday's season opener against Atlanta. Williams finished with 18 points in 27 minutes.

"I want to be more consistent, that's one of the main things I'm trying to do this year is be more dependable," Williams told the Sun's official website. "A lot of teams, when they scout me, I'm known as a (mid-range) jump shooter. So I worked on my outside game, so they have to respect that, as well."

Indiana and Connecticut squared off against each other three times last season, with the Sun winning the season series 2-1. Connecticut outscored Indiana by a combined total of 31 points in three meetings.

This season already has included another lopsided loss for the Fever, who were routed 85-62 by Phoenix on Wednesday. The defeat prompted Indiana coach Pokey Chatman to challenge her team.

"This is big girl basketball," Chatman told the team's official website. "You can't let any team get comfortable in this league. ... We need to play with more pride from the opening tip."

Four players are averaging double figures in the Fever's first two games. Tiffany Mitchell leads the way with 14.0 points per game and is followed closely by Briann January (13.5), Shenise Johnson (13.0) and Candice Dupree (11.0). On the boards, Erlana Larkins leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.

Morgan Tuck will aim for her second consecutive 20-point performance after leading Connecticut with 21 points in the opener. Williams (18 points) and Jasmine Thomas (14) also netted double figures.

Sun forward-center Jonquel Jones could provide a difficult challenge for the Fever's frontcourt. The 6-foot-6 George Washington alum led the nation in rebounding as a senior in college, and she pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds against Atlanta to start her second WNBA season.


WNB HEAD TO HEAD

Sep 13, 2016 Score ATS Results
IND 87 Over: 176
CONN « 89 Cover: 1
Tools: Recaps

Jul 13, 2016 Score ATS Results
CONN « 86 Cover: 30
IND 64 Under: 150
Tools: Recaps

Jun 5, 2016 Score ATS Results
IND « 88 Cover: 5
CONN 77 Over: 165
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Lynx (2-0) at Wings (1-0)
Date: May 20, 2017 8:00 PM EDT

Kaela Davis hopes for a repeat of her impressive WNBA debut when the Dallas Wings host the Minnesota Lynx in their home opener Saturday night at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Davis, a first-year guard who helped lead South Carolina to a national championship in the NCAA Tournament in March, scored 20 points in her first professional game Sunday in the Wings' season-opening 68-58 win against the Phoenix Mercury.

Dallas (1-0) trailed by two points at halftime despite a 10-point first half for Davis. The Wings pulled away in the fourth quarter, using a 19-9 run in the game's final 8:50 to seal the win.

Skylar Diggins-Smith added seven points, three rebounds and three assists in the victory.

The Wings return to College Park Center for their second home opener in Dallas after the franchise relocated from Tulsa ahead of last season. Dallas notched six of its 11 total wins at home last season and plans to lean heavily on its home fans once again.

"One of the big impacts that the move from Tulsa to the Dallas area had is on our fan base. I think that right of the bat, the support (in Dallas) was amazing, and the team has been settling in better this year," Wings assistant coach Bridget Pettis told DallasVoice.com.

Minnesota (2-0) is also coming off a win in Thursday's 90-71 rout of the host New York Liberty. Maya Moore scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half and finished with 11 rebounds as the Lynx outscored the Liberty 47-31 in the final half. It was Moore's 29th career double-double.

All five Lynx starters scored in double figures.

"When everyone gets involved and we have that balanced scoring, it's a great thing for us," Moore said. "We always feel better when we can play to our potential."

Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson had four rebounds against the Liberty and enters Saturday's game one shy of 3,000 for her career. She would become the fifth player in league history to achieve that milestone.

The Lynx also won their season opener Sunday, beating the Chicago Sky 70-61. Sylvia Fowles led the charge in that game with 26 points and 10 rebounds while Moore added 11 points.

Minnesota won all three games against Dallas last season by an average of 18.3 points. After losing the first two meetings by a combined 54 points, the Wings kept it close in the season-series finale, a 98-97 overtime loss at home.


WNB HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 17, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN « 98 Over: 195
DAL 97 Cover: 8
Tools: Recaps

Jul 9, 2016 Score ATS Results
DAL 56 Under: 149
MIN « 93 Cover: 25.5
Tools: Recaps

Jun 4, 2016 Score ATS Results
DAL 63 Under: 143
MIN « 80 Cover: 4.5
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak

Atlanta Dream 2 0 1.000 0 - 2-0 2-0 2-0 W-2

Washington Mystics 1 1 0.500 1 1-0 0-1 - 1-1 L-1

New York Liberty 1 1 0.500 1 1-1 - - 1-1 L-1

Connecticut Sun 0 1 0.000 1 0-1 - 0-1 0-1 L-1

Chicago Sky 0 2 0.000 2 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-2 L-2

Indiana Fever 0 2 0.000 2 - 0-2 - 0-2 L-2

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak

Minnesota Lynx 2 0 1.000 0 1-0 1-0 - 2-0 W-2

Los Angeles Sparks 2 0 1.000 0 2-0 - 1-0 2-0 W-2

Dallas Wings 1 0 1.000 0 - 1-0 1-0 1-0 W-1

Phoenix Mercury 2 1 0.667 0 1-1 1-0 1-1 2-1 W-2

Seattle Storm 1 1 0.500 1 1-0 0-1 0-1 1-1 W-1

San Antonio Stars 0 3 0.000 2 0-1 0-2 0-1 0-3 L-3

Updated Sat May 20 9:08 AM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA May's Record:

date w-l-t % units record

05/19/2017................ 4-2-0................ 66.67%................ + 9.00
05/18/2017................ 1-1-0................ 50.00%................. - 0.50
05/17/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50

Totals:.......................6 - 4..................60.00%..................+8.00

best bets:
05/19/2017.................4 -2...................66.66%.................+9.00
05/18/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50
05/17/2017.................1-1-0.................50.00%..................- 0.50

Totals:........................6 - 4.................60.00%..................+8.00


SATURDAY, MAY 20

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CONN at IND 07:00 PM

CONN +5.0

O 159.0

MIN at DAL 08:00 PM

MIN -9.0

O 163.5

[StarDust Bum]

Johnson leads Fever's rally in 81-79 win
May 20, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Shenise Johnson scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead jumper with 46 seconds remaining, and the Indiana Fever rallied to beat the Connecticut Sun 81-79 on Saturday night.

The Fever (1-2) ended a streak of four straight losses in home openers while also giving Pokey Chatman her first victory as Indiana's coach.

Connecticut (0-2) was without starters Jasmine Thomas (attending brother's wedding) and Alyssa Thomas (concussion protocol), but led 45-40 at halftime and was up 11 in the final minute of the third quarter.

Morgan Tuck's 3-pointer got the Sun within 76-75 with 16 seconds left but Connecticut was called for a dead-ball foul on Indiana's inbounds. The Fever converted the free throw and kept possession. Four free throws were then enough to ensure the win.

Candice Dupree scored 19 points to lead Indiana.

The Fever made 28 of 29 free throws while the Sun gave up 21 points off 18 turnovers.

****************************

Davis looks to build off debut as Wings host Lynx

Kaela Davis hopes for a repeat of her impressive WNBA debut when the Dallas Wings host the Minnesota Lynx in their home opener Saturday night at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

Davis, a first-year guard who helped lead South Carolina to a national championship in the NCAA Tournament in March, scored 20 points in her first professional game Sunday in the Wings' season-opening 68-58 win against the Phoenix Mercury.

Dallas (1-0) trailed by two points at halftime despite a 10-point first half for Davis. The Wings pulled away in the fourth quarter, using a 19-9 run in the game's final 8:50 to seal the win.

Skylar Diggins-Smith added seven points, three rebounds and three assists in the victory.

The Wings return to College Park Center for their second home opener in Dallas after the franchise relocated from Tulsa ahead of last season. Dallas notched six of its 11 total wins at home last season and plans to lean heavily on its home fans once again.

"One of the big impacts that the move from Tulsa to the Dallas area had is on our fan base. I think that right of the bat, the support (in Dallas) was amazing, and the team has been settling in better this year," Wings assistant coach Bridget Pettis told DallasVoice.com.

Minnesota (2-0) is also coming off a win in Thursday's 90-71 rout of the host New York Liberty. Maya Moore scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half and finished with 11 rebounds as the Lynx outscored the Liberty 47-31 in the final half. It was Moore's 29th career double-double.

All five Lynx starters scored in double figures.

"When everyone gets involved and we have that balanced scoring, it's a great thing for us," Moore said. "We always feel better when we can play to our potential."

Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson had four rebounds against the Liberty and enters Saturday's game one shy of 3,000 for her career. She would become the fifth player in league history to achieve that milestone.

The Lynx also won their season opener Sunday, beating the Chicago Sky 70-61. Sylvia Fowles led the charge in that game with 26 points and 10 rebounds while Moore added 11 points.

Minnesota won all three games against Dallas last season by an average of 18.3 points. After losing the first two meetings by a combined 54 points, the Wings kept it close in the season-series finale, a 98-97 overtime loss at home.