Cnotes 2018 wnba picks,trends,notes,news !

[StarDust Bum]

SUNDAY, JUNE 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LA at CHI 06:00 PM
CHI +10.0
U 163.0

PHO at LV 08:00 PM
PHO -6.5
U 163.5

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Diana Taurasi leads Mercury to 8th straight win
June 17, 2018

LAS VEGAS (AP) Diana Taurasi scored 18 of her 28 in the first half and the Phoenix Mercury ran their winning streak to eight with a 92-80 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday night.

Las Vegas pulled within six late in the fourth quarter but DeWanna Bonner hit a baseline 3 to make it 85-76 with 1:48 left and Taurasi made three free throws with 1:18 to go.

Phoenix (10-3) scored 10 straight to end the third quarter with a 75-59 lead - the Mercury's largest of the game. Leilani Mitchell had back-to-back 3-pointers in that run.

The Mercury took the lead for good with the last four points of the first half to go into the break ahead 46-42. Brittney Griner added 24 points for Phoenix.

A'ja Wilson led the Aces (3-9) with 21 points, and Kayla McBride had 20.

SPARKS 81, SKY 72

CHICAGO (AP) - Chelsea Gray scored 21 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points and 11 rebounds to help WNBA-leading Los Angeles beat Chicago.

Candace Parker added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Sparks (8-2). They have won four straight.

Jamierra Faulkner had 19 points for the Sky (3-7). They have lost four in a row.

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SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY JUNE 19, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Atlanta Dream New York Liberty Westchester County Center
7:00 PM Chicago Sky Washington Mystics Capital One Arena
8:00 PM Dallas Wings Minnesota Lynx Target Center
10:00 PM Las Vegas Aces Seattle Storm KeyArena
10:30 PM Indiana Fever Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Connecticut Sun Atlanta Dream McCamish Pavilion
8:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks Dallas Wings College Park Center
9:00 PM Washington Mystics Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena
10:00 PM Indiana Fever Seattle Storm KeyArena
10:00 PM Minnesota Lynx Phoenix Mercury Talking Stick Resort Arena
10:00 PM New York Liberty Las Vegas Aces Mandalay Bay Event Center

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 24, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
4:00 PM Seattle Storm Dallas Wings College Park Center
5:00 PM New York Liberty Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center
6:00 PM Connecticut Sun Indiana Fever Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6:00 PM Minnesota Lynx Las Vegas Aces Mandalay Bay Event Center
6:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena


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EASTERN CONFERENCE
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak
Connecticut Sun 7 4 0.636 0 4-1 3-3 4-2 6-4 L-3
Washington Mystics 6 5 0.545 1 3-3 3-2 3-1 5-5 L-1
Atlanta Dream 6 5 0.545 1 3-2 3-3 3-1 6-4 L-1
Chicago Sky 3 6 0.333 3 2-2 1-4 2-2 3-6 L-3
New York Liberty 3 6 0.333 3 2-4 1-2 2-2 3-6 L-2
Indiana Fever 1 10 0.091 6 1-6 0-4 1-7 1-9 W-1

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak
Los Angeles Sparks 7 2 0.778 0 4-1 3-1 3-1 7-2 W-3
Phoenix Mercury 9 3 0.750 0 4-2 5-1 5-2 7-3 W-7
Seattle Storm 8 3 0.727 0 5-2 3-1 4-2 8-2 W-2
Dallas Wings 5 4 0.556 2 3-1 2-3 2-3 5-4 W-1
Minnesota Lynx 4 6 0.400 3 2-2 2-4 1-3 4-6 W-1
Las Vegas Aces 3 8 0.273 5 1-2 2-6 0-4 3-7 L-1

Updated Mon Jun 18 12:04 AM EDT


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WNBA MAY RECORD: OVERALL PICKS

Totals............30 - 22 - 2...57.69%......+29.00

MAY'S BEST BETS:

TOTALS........................11 - 12.................-11.00.......................... ...18 - 8 - 1................+46.00


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WNBA 2018 RECORD

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

06/17/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
06/16/2018 3-3-0 50.00% -1.50
06/15/2018 3-3-0 50.00% -1.50
06/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
06/13/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
06/12/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
06/10/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
06/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -1100
06/08/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
06/07/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
06/05/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
06/01/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00

TOTALS..........33 - 27........55.00%.....+16.50

WNBA BEST BET RECORD

DATE:...........................ATS............... .....UNITS.......................O/U.....................UNITS............TOTAL

06/17/2018................2 - 0.....................+10.00...................... ..1- 1.....................-0.50.............+9.50
06/16/2018................2- 1......................+4.50...................... ...1 - 2......................-6.00............-1.50
06/15/2018................2 - 1.....................+4.50....................... ..1 - 2.....................-6.00.............-1.50
06/14/2018................0 - 1.....................-5.50..........................1 - 0....................+5.00.............-0.50
06/13/2018................1 - 1.....................-0.50..........................0 - 2....................-11.00............-11.50
06/12/2018................2 - 2.....................-1.00..........................3 - 1.....................+9.50............+8.50
06/10/2018................3 - 1.....................+9.50....................... ..2 - 2.....................-1.00.............+8.50
06/09/2018................0 - 1......................-5.50.........................0 - 1.....................-5.50.............-11.00
06/08/2018................3 - 0.....................+15.00...................... 1 - 2......................-6.00............+9.00
06/07/2018................2 - 1.....................+4.50....................... 2 - 1......................+4.50...........+9.00
06/05/2018................0 - 1......................-5.50........................0 - 1......................-5.50............-11.00
06/01/2018................1 - 2......................-6.00........................3 - 0.....................+15.00..........+9.00

TOTALS....................18 - 12...................+24.00.................... 15 - 14...................-6.50.............+16.50

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s 6-pack
Odds to win the World Series:
9-2— New York (A), Houston
6-1— Boston
7-1— Los Angeles, Chicago Cubs
8-1— Cleveland, Washington
18-1— Arizona, Atlanta, Milwaukee
20-1— Seattle

Tweet of the Day
“I live in a border state. I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart.”
Former First Lady Laura Bush

Tuesday’s quiz
Which major league team did former President George W Bush used to own?

Monday’s quiz
When Gerald Ford took over as President in 1974, former NY governor Nelson Rockefeller was the Vice-President.

Sunday’s quiz
In the movie Oceans 13, Al Pacino played casino owner Willy Bank.

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Tuesday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but…….

13) Some odd baseball trivia yesterday, in Washington DC.

On May 15, New York-Washington had a game suspended in the 6th inning; it was finished Monday. On May 20, Nationals’ rookie Juan Soto made his MLB debut.

So Monday, in the completion of the suspended May 15 game, Soto homered, making him a player who homered in a game that was started five days before his MLB debut. Go figure.

12) Soto is really good, by the way; he is hitting .316 in his first 79 at-bats as a rookie.

11) Nationals acquired closer Kelvin Herrera from the Royals Monday for three minor leaguers, one of whom is a 24-year old who hasn’t even made AA ball yet.

10) Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in their 45-year history this season, so of course, their coach quit Monday.

In four seasons under Barry Trotz, the Capitals were 205-89-34, the best record in the NHL. A two-year contract extension that had been negotiated previously was on the table if they won the Cup, but it was only a $300K raise per year and Trotz wanted the pot sweetened- obviously it was not. Everyone loses here.

I’m guessing Trotz wil be a hot commodity in the coaching free agent derby. Right now, the only NHL team without a head coach is the New York Islanders.

9) Keith Hernandez on TV in the 4th inning of the Mets-Rockies game last night: “I’ve never seen so much in-game coaching in my life.”

He didn’t seem real happy about it, but players get to the major leagues faster now than they used to and they still need coaching when they get there.

8) Nevada Wolf Pack hired Michael Musselman, the son of Nevada basketball coach Eric Musselman, as a graduate assistant.

Eric Musselman: “I’m really excited to add Michael to our coaching staff. He will provide high energy and a great work ethic to our coaching staff. I was very fortunate to work for my father at a young age and the opportunity to work with my son is something that is very special.”

Eric Mussselman’s dad Bill was coach at U of Minnesota and also in the NBA.

7) Pirates and Mariners have both won four 1-0 games this year, most in major leagues.

There were 29 games last year that ended 1-0; so far this year, there have been 30.

6) Pretty serious upgrade for the Carolina Panthers, going from Mike Shula to Norv Turner at offensive coordinator. Panthers will be an interesting team to follow this fall. Turner has a great reputation as an offensive guru; how will he mesh with Cam Newton?

5) Unintended consequence of the immigration crackdown: “Avocado farmers in Santa Barbara County, (CA) are currently struggling to find workers.”

So if the price of avocados goes way up, you know who to blame…….

4) There are two guys in professional baseball named Josh Smith; they both pitch for the Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston’s AAA farm club.

On Saturday, one of the Josh Smiths started for the Sox; on Sunday, the other one did.

3) Red Sox are 13-1 in Eduardo Rodriguez’ starts this season.

2) Cleveland Cavaliers dumped two of their assistant coaches; read into that what you will.

1) Umpire Tony Randazzo is a tough guy; he took a foul tip off the knuckles on his left hand last night, then took another foul ball off his collarbone. Both direct hits- they had to hurt like hell, but he stayed in the game. Tough.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA Betting Recap - 6/11-6/17
June 19, 2018

League Betting Notes (Monday, June 11 through Sunday, June 17)

-- Favorites went 10-5 straight up (SU)
-- Favorites went 8-6-1 against the spread (ATS)
-- Home teams went 8-7 SU record
-- Road teams went 6-8-1 ATS record
-- The 'over' went 8-7


Team Betting Notes

-- Atlanta (5-3) split a pair in a home-and-home with Indiana (1-10), as the Dream became the first victory of the Fever. In fact, it wasn't even close, as Indiana hammered Atlanta by a 96-64 count on Saturday, taking out a season's worth of a aggression in one night. Atlanta is now a disappointing 1-3-1 ATS over the past five outings.

-- The Fever might have just one victory straight-up, but they've been a friend to bettors at the window. Indiana has posted an impressive 4-1 ATS mark over the past five, and they're a perfect 4-0 ATS in four road outings in 2018.

-- Chicago (3-7) is in the midst of a four-game skid, and they've won just once in the past eight outings after opening the season 2-0 SU/ATS. The Sky have also failed to cover in four in a row, and they're 0-5-1 ATS across the past six contests.

-- It was an outstanding start to the season for Connecticut (7-4), as they fired out of the chute 5-0 SU, and 7-1 SU through the first eight. Lately it's been a different story, as the Sun are 0-3 SU/ATS. They will look to snap that ugly skid as the road trip continues Friday night in Atlanta. Connecticut has failed to cover in five straight road contests.

-- Phoenix (10-3) limped out of the box with three losses in their first five contests, very uncharacteristic by their standards. The Mercury have been doing what's expected lately, however, posting eight straight outings since flipping the calendar from May to June. They're also an impressive 7-1 ATS during the eight-game winning streak.

-- Minnesota (4-6) is another team used to winning, but they have yet to rattled off an impressive winning streak. Perhaps an 85-71 victory against New York (3-6) will spur them on. After opening the season 0-7 ATS, the Lynx have posted a 2-1 ATS mark across the past three. They'll try and cool off the Merc on Friday night in the desert.

-- The Liberty opened the season with covers in three of their first four, but they're 0-3 ATS over the past three, and 1-4 ATS across the past five. They're also just 1-2 ATS in three road contests, which is bad news considering 10 of their next 14 will be away from Gotham.

-- Las Vegas (3-9) won their first two road games in franchise history last Tuesday and Wednesday, but it was back to losing ways in the past two. They're just 1-3 SU/2-2 ATS in four home games, and they're where they're be in four of the next five.

-- Seattle (8-3) has been impressive, as they have yet to post non-covers in back-to-back games this season. Overall they're 6-5 ATS, and 3-1 ATS over the past four. The Storm have been particularly attractive to bettors on the road, going 3-1 SU/ATS in four contests.

-- Los Angeles (8-2) continues to quietly roll along, posting four straight wins while going 3-0-1 ATS. Total bettors love the Sparks, too, as the 'under' is an impressive 6-1 across the past seven.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA

Tuesday, June 19

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Trend Report
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Atlanta Dream
Atlanta is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Atlanta's last 10 games
Atlanta is 3-9-1 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
Atlanta is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing New York
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing New York
Atlanta is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against New York
Atlanta is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against New York
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing on the road against New York
New York Liberty
New York is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
New York is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of New York's last 18 games
New York is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games at home
New York is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of New York's last 13 games at home
New York is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
New York is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
New York is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Atlanta
New York is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New York's last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta


Chicago Sky
Chicago is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Chicago is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games
Chicago is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Chicago is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 6 games on the road
Chicago is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Washington
Chicago is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing Washington
Chicago is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington Mystics
Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Washington is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games at home
Washington is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 7 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing at home against Chicago


Dallas Wings
Dallas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Dallas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Dallas is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Dallas's last 22 games on the road
Dallas is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Minnesota
Dallas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Dallas is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Dallas's last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games
Minnesota is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Minnesota is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Minnesota is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Minnesota's last 13 games at home
Minnesota is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Dallas
Minnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
Minnesota is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota's last 7 games when playing at home against Dallas


Las Vegas Aces
Las Vegas is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Las Vegas is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games
Las Vegas is 4-21 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Las Vegas is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Seattle
Las Vegas is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Seattle
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Las Vegas's last 7 games when playing Seattle
Las Vegas is 4-14 ATS in its last 18 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Las Vegas is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Seattle
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Las Vegas's last 6 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Seattle Storm
Seattle is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Seattle is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Seattle's last 11 games
Seattle is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Seattle is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Seattle's last 7 games at home
Seattle is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Las Vegas
Seattle is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Las Vegas
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Seattle's last 7 games when playing Las Vegas
Seattle is 14-4 ATS in its last 18 games when playing at home against Las Vegas
Seattle is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Las Vegas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games when playing at home against Las Vegas


Indiana Fever
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Indiana is 1-18 SU in its last 19 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Indiana's last 10 games
Indiana is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Indiana is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games on the road
Indiana is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Indiana's last 8 games when playing Los Angeles
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Indiana is 5-10 ATS in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Indiana is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Indiana's last 17 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles is 18-5-2 ATS in its last 25 games
Los Angeles is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Los Angeles's last 7 games
Los Angeles is 12-2-1 ATS in its last 15 games at home
Los Angeles is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 5 games at home
Los Angeles is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Los Angeles's last 8 games when playing Indiana
Los Angeles is 10-5 ATS in its last 15 games when playing at home against Indiana
Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Indiana
Los Angeles is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games when playing at home against Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Los Angeles's last 17 games when playing at home against Indiana

[StarDust Bum]

Dream-Liberty Preview

The Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty experienced frustrating weekend trips to Midwest cities, and watching the film of those performances was not enjoyable viewing.

Both teams get a chance to rebound from subpar showings Tuesday night when the Dream visit the Liberty at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y.

Atlanta (6-5) is coming off a 96-64 loss to the previously winless Indiana Fever. After squeaking by Indiana at home last Thursday with a five-point win, the Dream shot 37.3 percent and got outscored 61-26 in the second half on Saturday.

Atlanta ranks as the lowest scoring team in the league at 73.8 points per game and has topped 80 points three times. The Dream also have shot below 40 percent in the last three games, and their 38.6 field goal percentage ranks last in the league as does their 26.5 percent on 3-point attempts.

"We're getting there. It takes time. I hate to say it's a process because now it's cliche, but it takes time to learn each other," Atlanta guard Renee Montgomery said last week. "We're trying to figure out how to win in tough situations. We did last game, but it takes time."

Angel McCoughtry scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 26 minutes Saturday. Her performance occurred after she was 7 of 25 from the floor in the previous two games.

Tiffany Hayes, who has scored at least 20 points six times this season and was the Eastern Conference Player of the Week last week, injured her right ankle in the third quarter Saturday and is questionable for Tuesday.

While Atlanta ranks at the bottom in three major offensive categories, it is allowing 77.5 points, which ranks second in scoring defense behind the Los Angeles Sparks. The Fever are hoping Saturday was an aberration on the defensive side.

New York (3-6) began the season with seven straight games decided by six points or fewer but is coming off consecutive losses by double-digit margins.

The Liberty trailed by 26 in a 78-63 home loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday and followed it up by trailing by 24 in an 85-71 setback at Minnesota on Saturday.

"The past few games, we've just been getting lucky," New York forward Tina Charles said after the loss to Las Vegas. "We've just been getting by. I believe we needed this. We needed to get smacked around to know what it feels like."

The Liberty are hoping they can shore up their interior defense and rebounding after a dismal showing in both areas.

They allowed 42 points in the paint on 21-of-30 shooting while totaling only 22 points inside themselves. New York also was outrebounded 35-22, resulting in a 19-3 disparity in second-chance points as it could not stop Minnesota star Sylvia Fowles from constantly getting layups in a 25-point night.

Offensively, the Liberty are hoping for more support for Charles. She scored a season-low 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting, but nobody else reached double figures as the Liberty were held below 80 points for the fourth time in five games.

New York took two of three meetings with Indiana last season and has won 11 of the 14 games with Atlanta.

[StarDust Bum]

Mystics begin home-and-home set with Sky

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky will have quality time with each other this week as they begin a home-and-home series Tuesday night at Capital One Arena.

The Sky (3-7) bring a four-game losing streak to DC, the latest loss coming on Sunday night when they fell to the Los Angeles Sparks 81-72.

Chicago led by nine early in the second quarter, but the Sparks rallied with 21 straight points and led 39-33 at halftime. Los Angeles opened the second half with a 16-2 run to put the game out of reach

Jamierra Faulkner had 19 points off the bench for the Sky on 7-of-9 shooting and Diamond DeShields added 12. In her first ten games in the WNBA, the rookie and No. 3 draft pick has scored in double figures six times.??

It's the first meeting of the year between the teams.

Washington's Elena Delle Donne played for and the Sky from 2013-16.

After missing four games due to illness, Delle Donne has quickly regained her form.

On Monday, she was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for 13th time in her six seasons. She averaged a WNBA-high 27.0 points per game last week as Washington went 1-1 and was sixth among Eastern Conference players in rebounding (6.5 per game) and fourth in field goal percentage (55.6, 20-of-36).

The Mystics are also coming off a loss to the Sparks, 97-86 last Friday at home.

After trailing 52-34 at the half, the Mystics eventually tied the score 76-76 before the Sparks pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Delle Donne led five players in double figures with 18 points, and center LaToya Sanders posted her first double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

"We were a step behind defensively the whole first half and that carried over to our offense as we were taking it out on the net too many times," Mystics coach Mike Thibault said. "They kind of had their way with us. Our defense has got to get back on solid ground before we start this next stretch of games. It wasn't good tonight."

The Mystics have lost four of their last five games, but they'll play five of their next six games in Washington starting with the struggling Sky, who Thibault is not looking past

"They push the ball hard. They have great athletes on the wing," he told the Washington Times. "Their backcourt of (Courtney) Vandersloot and (Allie) Quigley are a really great shooting backcourt."

Quigley is averaging 15.5 points per game and Vandersloot is shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range.

[StarDust Bum]

Aces look to show improvement against Storm

The Las Vegas Aces do not have many victories to show for it, but coach Bill Laimbeer insists his team is making "great progress."

And others, including the most decorated player in WNBA history, are taking notice.

"Bill's teams are always tough," Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi told the Las Vegas Review-Journal after the Mercury beat the Aces 92-80 on Sunday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, a game that was in doubt until the final minutes. "They're persistent. They got a bunch of kids that want to compete. Bill accelerates that process. He just does such a good job getting his teams to play hard and together and play to the last whistle.

"Working hard and being competitive, it's a learned behavior. It's not something that you just step on the court and have. It's in you, like a little seed and you need a little watering and it gets bigger and bigger and you can see it with a lot of kids on that team."

The Aces (3-9) will get to measure that progress Tuesday night when they travel to Seattle to face the Storm.

A'ja Wilson, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's WNBA draft, scored 21 points for Las Vegas and Kayla McBride added 20 against Phoenix.

"I'm learning them and they're learning me," Laimbeer said. "I'm not discouraged a bit. We're going to get there. It's just a matter of time. I told them to keep their heads up. Little things are hurting us. Missing too many layups. Missing too many free throws. Giving up offensive rebounds at the wrong time. Believe it or not, I'm seeing great progress."

This will be the third and final meeting between the teams in the regular season. Seattle won both of the previous matchups: 105-98 on May 27 in the opening game at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and 101-74 on May 31 at KeyArena, when the Storm made a league-record 17 3-pointers.

The Storm (8-3) are coming off a 103-92 home victory Friday against Connecticut in a matchup of the two highest scoring teams in the league.

Natasha Howard scored a career-high 25 points for the Storm and Breanna Stewart added 23 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

"This was a statement win for us," said reserve guard Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who added 18 points, one short of her career high. "I think that we have been progressing every game, from the bench to our starters getting us going from the beginning. (It) was a big win for us."

[StarDust Bum]

Wings-Lynx Preview

The Minnesota Lynx's extra work last week paid off with a with a win. Now Cheryl Reeve's team will try go back to back.

"I told the team it had to feel good to put the kind of work we did this week to carry over into the game," Reeve told the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press after her team downed the New York Liberty 85-71 on Saturday. "Our goal was to be much harder to play against."

The Lynx (4-6), who have won two in a row just once in the season's first 10 games, host the Dallas Wings (5-4) on Tuesday at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

One win, Reeve said, won't strike fear in the hearts of opponents.

"I don't think any of us sit here and say, 'Well, they won a game so everything's OK, they're back.' I think that would be a mistake," she said Monday. "Like I told them, was that just one game? Was that just because we worked hard and had a lot of focus? Now, what about the next game?"

Minnesota will have to contend with the Wings' inside-outside duo of Liz Cambage, the WNBA's second leading rebounder (10.8 per game), and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who is tops in the league at 21.9 points per game.

Cambage likely remembers the last time she faced Minnesota center Sylvia Fowles, who leads the league in rebounding again this year. The reigning MVP had 23 points and 20 rebounds in a 76-68 Lynx win on May 23.

Playing without Seimone Augustes on Saturday, Minnesota got 45 points from its biggest stars, Fowles and Maya Moore.

"It's a veteran team," Fowles said after scoring a season-high 25 points. "More of our conversation was 'we've been here, we know what it takes.' ... It was more of, 'we're tired of this.'"

Moore had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists.

"That's what we need from them, as the go-to players," Reeve said.

Dallas is coming off a 78-68 win over Las Vegas in which Cambage certainly wasn't looking ahead to Tuesday's matchup. The Wings center tied a career high (28 points) and set another (18 rebounds) in the win.

"She is capable of being a double-double player," Dallas coach Fred Williams said. "Each game, she gets into the rhythm of scoring with her offensive moves and shooting touch. That's the reason why we signed her -- scoring and rebound. She demonstrated that tonight."

It was the fourth in five games that Cambage has topped 20 points. The 6-foot-8 Australian returned to the WNBA this season after five years playing abroad.

[StarDust Bum]

Sparks flying with four straight wins, Fever going for two in a row

On top of the WNBA standings sit the Los Angeles Sparks.

On the opposite end is where the Indiana Fever reside.

The Sparks are 8-2 and have won four straight as coach Brian Agler has a full complement of players after injury and overseas commitments jumbled his early season lineup.

The Fever now are 1-10 after soundly defeating the Atlanta Dream 96-64 on Saturday.

"We needed this," Indiana's Erica Wheeler said. "There were a couple of games that we played, we felt like we were there and we didn't get over the hump. Today we got over the hump."

Indiana will hope to make it two straight, and Los Angeles will hope to avoid a trap when the two tangle on Tuesday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Fever trailed the Dream at halftime but came out on fire in the third quarter and cruised to the win.

"It was just nice to get the first one out of the way," Fever coach Pokey Chatman told the Indianapolis Star. "It wasn't just holding onto the win. It was nice to sub people and the momentum continued in all phases of basketball."

The rookie duo of Victoria Vivans and Kelsey Mitchell combined for 21 third-quarter points. The duo connected on 5 of 6 3-pointers. Vivens finished with 21 points and Mitchell scored 19.

"I was telling (Chatman) that we work our tail off to trust the process and a little of our hard work finally pays off," Mitchell said. "Not that it's dramatic that we win, but it is because we've been on a drought. To get a win, it feels good."

Winning is expected in the Sparks' locker room. Their last loss, an embarrassing 25-point setback on June 7 to the Seattle Storm, lit a fire under Agler's squad.

It might have taken the Sparks a few games to figure things out but figure out things they have.

"We had so many people either not here for training camp or injured in training camp, so we are sort of trying to get better as the season goes on and we sort of have to talk about it, walk through things, instead of practice all the time because of how compact the schedule is," Agler said before the win over the Sky.

"But I think we are getting better and that is one reason our offense is getting better, because of our spacing and our cutting."

That certainly is evident during the four-game streak, where the Sparks' average winning margin is 11.5 points per game. Candace Parker is rounding into All-Star form after missing the early part of the season recovering from surgery. Parker is averaging just over 20 points per game during the streak.

LA's defense during the past four games has given up just 59, 64, 86 and 72 points. For the season, the Sparks lead the league in fewest points allowed per game at 75.8.

Alana Beard, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, anchors the Sparks' defense. Nneka Ogwumike not only leads LA in scoring, rebounding, minutes played and field-goal percentage, but she leads the WNBA in steals at 1.7 per game.

Against the Sky, Chelsea Gray led all scorers with 21 points. Ogwumike added 20 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Parker also had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, June 19


Chicago @ Washington

Game 601-602
June 19, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago
96.635
Washington
113.384
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 16 1/2
173
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 8 1/2
170
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-8 1/2); Over

Atlanta @ New York

Game 603-604
June 19, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
99.157
New York
110.946
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New York
by 12
155
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New York
by 5
151
Dunkel Pick:
New York
(-5); Over

Dallas @ Minnesota

Game 605-606
June 19, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Dallas
110.932
Minnesota
112.394
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 1 1/2
159
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
by 6 1/2
165 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Dallas
(+6 1/2); Under

Las Vegas @ Seattle

Game 607-608
June 19, 2018 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Las Vegas
106.664
Seattle
115.835
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Seattle
by 9
163
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Seattle
by 11 1/2
170
Dunkel Pick:
Las Vegas
(+11 1/2); Under

Indiana @ Los Angeles

Game 609-610
June 19, 2018 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Indiana
106.851
Los Angeles
113.811
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Los Angeles
by 7
158
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Los Angeles
by 15
154 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Indiana
(+15); Over

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, JUNE 19
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CHI at WAS 07:00 PM
CHI +9.0
O 169.5

ATL at NY 07:00 PM
ATL +5.5
U 150.0

DAL at MIN 08:00 PM
DAL +8.0
O 165.0

LV at SEA 10:00 PM
SEA -10.5
O 169.0

IND at LA 10:30 PM
LA -13.0
U 153.0

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA Capsules
June 19, 2018

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) Tina Charles scored 29 points and the New York Liberty overcame a strong effort from Angel McCoughtry to beat the short-handed Atlanta Dream 79-72 on Tuesday night.

McCoughtry finished with a career-high 39 points. She was 19 for 22 from the foul line - both career bests. She also had 14 rebounds for the Dream.

The Liberty (4-6) were cruising early in this game, up 16 points in the first half before McCoughtry got going for the Dream. She had 23 points combined in the second and third quarters to rally the Dream (6-6).

The Dream were missing Tiffany Hayes and Brittney Sykes, who are both in walking boots. Hayes injured her left ankle in a loss to Indiana and Sykes has missed five games with an injured right foot.

MYSTICS 88, SKY 60

WASHINGTON (AP) - Kristi Toliver had 19 points and eight assists to help the Mystics beat the Sky .

The Mystics (7-5) opened the second half with a 17-2 run to go ahead 63-34 shortly after the midpoint of the third quarter. They extended to their largest lead at 86-53 in the middle of the fourth.

Elena Delle Donne added 14 points for Washington, which first pulled away in the second quarter with 13 straight points to lead by 16.

The Mystics came into the game losing four of five,

Cheyenne Parker had 18 points and Kahleah Copper scored 13 for the Sky (3-8), who lost their fifth in a row.

LYNX 91, WINGS 83

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Maya Moore scored 21, Sylvia Fowles added 19 points and 17 rebounds, and the Lynx beat the Wings.

The Lynx (5-6) made all eight of their free throws in the final 1:11 to hold off a late charge from the Wings (5-5).

Minnesota jumped in front early with 12 straight points and led 25-10 in the first quarter. The Wings closed within nine before the end of the period, but the Lynx pushed the lead back to double digits early in the second quarter and kept it there until the final two minutes of the game.

Skylar Diggins-Smith's 3-pointer with 20.7 seconds left cut the deficit to 87-83 after the Wings had trailed by as many as 21. Diggins-Smith finished with 17 points and Liz Cambage added 16 points and nine boards.

For the defending champion Lynx, the victory was the second time this season that they have won back-to-back games.

SPARKS 74, FEVER 55

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Candace Parker scored 15 and the Los Angeles Sparks used their defense to win their fifth straight, beating the Fever.

The Fever's offensive output was a season low in scoring as well as a season best defensively for the Sparks (9-2).

Los Angeles pulled away with 12 straight points to lead 70-53 on Chelsea Gray's basket with 1:31 left in the game. Gray added 14 points and Nneka Ogwumike scored 12.

The Sparks remained alone atop the WNBA standings.

Natalie Achonwa had 13 points and Tiffany Mitchell scored 10 for the Fever (1-11), who were coming in off their first win of the season.

ACES 87, STORM 77

SEATTLE (AP) - A'ja Wilson had 25 points and 15 rebounds and the Aces pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Storm.

Tamera Young and Kayla McBride added 17 points each for the Aces (4-9), who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Las Vegas erased a six-point deficit with an 8-2 burst to end the third quarter and opened the fourth with a 19-6 run to lead 83-70.

The Storm (8-4) trailed 17-3 early but battled back to 22-16 by the end of the first quarter. Seattle took its first lead at 39-38 on the last points scored before halftime.

Breanna Stewart had 27 points and Jewell Loyd added 14 for the Storm. Starters Sue Bird (rest) and Alysha Clark (ankle) were out of the game for Seattle.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Connecticut Sun Atlanta Dream McCamish Pavilion
8:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks Dallas Wings College Park Center
9:00 PM Washington Mystics Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena
10:00 PM Indiana Fever Seattle Storm KeyArena
10:00 PM Minnesota Lynx Phoenix Mercury Talking Stick Resort Arena
10:00 PM New York Liberty Las Vegas Aces Mandalay Bay Event Center

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 24, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
4:00 PM Seattle Storm Dallas Wings College Park Center
5:00 PM New York Liberty Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center
6:00 PM Connecticut Sun Indiana Fever Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6:00 PM Minnesota Lynx Las Vegas Aces Mandalay Bay Event Center
6:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Chicago Sky Wintrust Arena


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


WNBA MAY RECORD: OVERALL PICKS

Totals............30 - 22 - 2...57.69%......+29.00

MAY'S BEST BETS:

TOTALS........................11 - 12.................-11.00.......................... ...18 - 8 - 1................+46.00


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


WNBA 2018 RECORD

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

06/19/2018 3-6-1 33.33% -18.00
06/17/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
06/16/2018 3-3-0 50.00% -1.50
06/15/2018 3-3-0 50.00% -1.50
06/14/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
06/13/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
06/12/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
06/10/2018 5-3-0 62.50% +8.50
06/09/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -1100
06/08/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
06/07/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00
06/05/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
06/01/2018 4-2-0 66.67% +9.00

TOTALS..........36 - 33........52.17%.....- 1.50

WNBA BEST BET RECORD

DATE:...........................ATS............... .....UNITS.......................O/U.....................UNITS............TOTAL

06/19/2018................1- 3......................-11.50.........................2 - 3....................-6.50..............-18.00
06/17/2018................2 - 0.....................+10.00...................... ..1- 1.....................-0.50.............+9.50
06/16/2018................2- 1......................+4.50...................... ...1 - 2......................-6.00............-1.50
06/15/2018................2 - 1.....................+4.50....................... ..1 - 2.....................-6.00.............-1.50
06/14/2018................0 - 1.....................-5.50..........................1 - 0....................+5.00.............-0.50
06/13/2018................1 - 1.....................-0.50..........................0 - 2....................-11.00............-11.50
06/12/2018................2 - 2.....................-1.00..........................3 - 1.....................+9.50............+8.50
06/10/2018................3 - 1.....................+9.50....................... ..2 - 2.....................-1.00.............+8.50
06/09/2018................0 - 1......................-5.50.........................0 - 1.....................-5.50.............-11.00
06/08/2018................3 - 0.....................+15.00...................... 1 - 2......................-6.00............+9.00
06/07/2018................2 - 1.....................+4.50....................... 2 - 1......................+4.50...........+9.00
06/05/2018................0 - 1......................-5.50........................0 - 1......................-5.50............-11.00
06/01/2018................1 - 2......................-6.00........................3 - 0.....................+15.00..........+9.00

TOTALS....................19 - 15...................+12.50.................... 17 - 17..................-13.00.............-1.50