I like both offenses to propel this game OVER here on Tuesday for my WNBA Total of the Year.  Each team has enough offensive weapons to take this game into the 190’s.

These two teams have already played once this season with Minnesota coming away with a 108-100 victory that saw 208 points scored. That game gave us an idea of how tough it can be on either defense when games get played at a quicker pace.

Indiana has been one of the best Over teams in the WNBA this season, going 26-16 to the Over. In the four games leading up to Sunday’s 93-77 loss at Washington, the Fever scored 103, 111, 113 and 102 points. Caitlin Clark also returned to action Sunday and scored 25 points. Clark gives Indiana another weapon they can utilize on offense.

Minnesota is fresh off a 101-89 victory over Connecticut, so both offenses should be clicking on Tuesday. Indiana has been especially lethal at home, scoring 99.2 points per game. Both teams have the ability to reach the mid-to-upper 90s on Tuesday night.

Taking the first meeting into account with 208 points scored and both offenses having the capability of scoring 95-or-more points, I like the upside to shoot past the current number.

Jim’s Play: 609. Min Lynx / Ind Fever OVER (WNBA Total of the Year)

I like the Dallas Wings and Phoenix Mercury to go over the total in their Monday game. 

Dallas and Phoenix scored a combined 169 points Saturday in Dallas’ 87-82 victory. While I don’t expect nearly as close of a game Monday night, there’s still reason to believe this matchup will finish in the mid-to-upper 170s.

The Dallas Wings are averaging 89.1 points per game on the season and have been firing on all cylinders recently, putting up 87, 97, 97, 96 and 92 points in its last five games. As a team, Dallas is shooting 47% from the field and has more than enough scoring options outside of Paige Bueckers, who is leading the team in scoring (20.6 ppg).

Phoenix allows 87.3 points per game this season, which should give Dallas another opportunity to score 90-plus points. Offensively, Phoenix is scoring 84.4 points per game and Alyssa Thomas is still one of the best scorers in the league. She registered 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists Saturday when these two teams played last.

Phoenix will also be without Satou Sabally on Monday as she rests up for Tuesday’s game against Seattle. Dallas will be without Alanna Smith, who is one of their best defensive players inside. Phoenix shot just 41% from the field in Saturday’s game but scored 82 points because of Dallas’ lack of defense without Smith.

Take these teams to go over the total here on Monday. 

Jim’s Play: 603. Dal Wings/ Phx Mercury OVER

I like the Indiana Fever and Toronto Tempo to  go over OVER the total points Friday night. I know it's a pretty high number but I still think they can do it.

Indiana had a very good offense going into the World Cup. They scored 111, 113, 102 and 101 points in four of their last five games. Clark and Mitchell have been really good when playing together as well. In Indiana's last game against Connecticut both players scored 34 points. They won 111-91. 

The season series goes over as well. Indiana beat Toronto 113-91 and 101-95. Both of those games went over by a good amount. 204 and 196 total points respectively. So Friday's number should be easy to go over.

Toronto will be missing some key players Marina Mabrey, Britteny Sykes and Aneesah Morrow. This could actually cause the game to be played faster and more sloppy. Rookie Kiki Rice has stepped up on offense and likes to play in transition. Julie Allemand just had a great world cup and led in assists.

It's all about Indiana for me. If Indiana can score in the 100 point range again. All Toronto needs to do is score in the high 80's. I think with the season series and Indiana’s play lately they can go over 190 again.

Jim’s Play: 641  Ind Fever / Tor Tempo OVER

My WNBA betting over/under favorite play for August is Toronto-Las Vegas UNDER. Toronto’ offense has really struggled this season without Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow who are both out for the season. Those are two players that really opened up the Tempo’s offense and created shots for their teammates.

These two squads only played Sunday where Las Vegas came away with an 88-78 victory that totaled just 166 points. Toronto lost by a similar score against Seattle last night as well and it too went well under Friday’ s betting number.

Las Vegas should dominate this game with A’ja Wilson and its stingy defense. However Vegas doesn’t have to come out blazing for four quarters like they usually do as 15.5-point favorites. If Vegas establishes the lead that the spread indicates we could see the pace slow down in the fourth quarter with more bench players getting time. We are already starting at 180.5, which is a lot of cushion compared to the 166 points these teams scored combined just five days ago.

Toronto just needs to keep up at this point. With their offense missing so many key pieces, I struggle to even have them score in the mid-to-upper 80s against a Las Vegas team that’s capable of winning a championship.

Jim's Play: 613. Tor Tempo / LV Aces UNDER  (WNBA Total of the Month)

I like both teams to stay UNDER the total Monday night with the number hovering around 161.5 points. Minnesota and Golden State are two of the best defensive teams in the WNBA, and Golden State also happens to play at one of the slowest paces in the league.

The Valkyries rank first in WNBA defense, allowing opponents to score just 76.6 points per game. Equally impressive is Golden State’s league-worst pace, meaning fewer possessions and fewer chances for this contest to evolve into a track meet.

Looking at their last meeting should tell you everything you need to know about this betting option. Minnesota defeated Golden State 77-66 on Aug. 19, a game in which just 143 combined points were produced. The Valkyries were 7-for-37 from three and failed to score more than 25 points in three of four quarters.

Golden State’s offense hasn’t exactly lit it up since then, either. After losing to the Lynx, the Valkyries scored only 70 points in a 73-70 loss to Chicago on Friday. Over their last two games, that’s 136 points, or 68 per game.

Minnesota can score points, but Golden State does as well and they defend at an excellent level, too. They’ve already proven they can control this game without posting massive offensive numbers. Golden State also plays at a pace that forces opponents into half-court basketball, slowing the game down and lowering offensive efficiency across the board.

Jim's Play: 653. GS Valkyries / Min Lynx UNDER 

The primary reason I like this UNDER Thursday night is the Los Angeles offense. The Sparks have now lost six consecutive games and failed to score 80 points in five of those six contests. Los Angeles scored only 76 points on Tuesday in a loss at Connecticut. Over its last five games, the Sparks scored 77, 70, 81, 87 and 78 points, an average of 78.6 points per game. In four of those five games, the total went UNDER as both teams combined for 166 points or fewer.

Cameron Brink and Monique Akoa Makani are out for Los Angeles while Erica Wheeler is questionable after suffering an ankle injury. Losing three players limits the Sparks’ offense significantly and will make it tough for them to play efficient basketball for four straight quarters.

Atlanta ranks fourth in defensive rating and will challenge the Sparks to score. The Dream held the Aces to just 82 points on Tuesday and previously held Connecticut to 69 points. Atlanta has the defensive length and athleticism to force Los Angeles into tough half-court possessions.

Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks first met earlier this season and the game finished with a score of 101-92. However, that game was played in exceptionally efficient shooting percentages. Los Angeles shot 52.2% from the field while Atlanta shot 49.3%. Both of those percentages would be considerably lower than normal if they were to replicate them Thursday night. Considering the state of Los Angeles’ offense and some key injuries, I do not expect we will see those kinds of shooting percentages Thursday.

Atlanta will also be playing its second road game in three nights after playing Tuesday in Las Vegas. Back-to-back road games could mean a slower pace as teams often prefer to play at a controlled pace than letting things get out of hand in a track meet.

Los Angeles is scoring under 79 points per game over its last five contests, the Sparks are dealing with injuries and Atlanta has one of the better defenses in the WNBA. Those three factors point to UNDER Thursday night.

Jim's Play: 629.  Atlanta Dream / LA Sparks UNDER 

I’m taking the Minnesota Lynx and Golden State Valkyries to go UNDER the total Wednesday night.  Defense wins championships! At least it should. Golden State has the best defense in the WNBA this season. They rank first in defensive rating (101.4) and opponent points per game (76.7). The Valkyries have also had opponents score 70 or fewer points 10 times this season, which leads the league.

Golden State has also played in three straight games where both teams failed to reach 80 points. They defeated Dallas 78-70, Chicago 91-71 and Los Angeles 84-78. All three of those games stayed UNDER the posted totals. Teams typically resort to the OVER when they need to outscore opponents. But since Golden State can lock teams down defensively, they don’t have to.

These two teams played just two weeks ago on June 19. The Lynx won 81-75 at Golden State, producing just 156 combined points and landing UNDER 166.5. Golden State held Minnesota star Olivia Miles to 1-10 shooting on the way to seven points.

Minnesota does have a potent offense that averages 92.6 points per game, but they haven’t faced defensive competition quite like what they’ll see on Wednesday. Golden State allows only 76.7 points per game, and the Valkyries have enough talent to clog the lane and force Minnesota to take contested shots late in the shot clock.

Golden State boasts the league’s best defense. They’ve had their last three games stay UNDER and the last Minnesota game stayed well UNDER at 156 points. Take the UNDER Wednesday night. 

Jim's Play: 625. Min Lynx / GS Valkyries UNDER

I like the under here on Tuesday as the LA Sparks visit the Connecticut Sun. 

Both of these offenses coming into this game have been trending down, indicating a lower-scoring affair may be on the horizon.

Connecticut is clearly the best reason to buy into the Under. The Sun are averaging just 79.2 points per game and their last two games had final scores of 75-72 (vs Phoenix) and 82-75 (vs New York) with only 147 and 157 total points. Connecticut has not demonstrated reliable offensive firepower to consistently push the score up into the 170s.

Los Angeles has cooled off as well. The Sparks only scored 70 points in their Saturday loss to Washington, and have lost 10-of-12 games. Los Angeles also doesn’t have Kelsey Plum anymore after trading her to Phoenix, forcing more offense onto Rae Burrell, Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby.

Cameron Brink (rib injury) and Erica Wheeler (ankle) are also worth monitoring heading into this one. Connecticut injuries to monitor are Aaliyah Edwards and Brittney Griner. Injuries to frontcourt and playmakers usually leads to teams having more half-court sets and inefficient possessions.

These teams combined for only 165 points in their first matchup with Connecticut emerging with a 84-81 win. Those are only numbers I am interested in considering because of how well they align with current injuries and recent offensive struggles.  Take the Under here on Tuesday. 

Jim's Play: 615. LA Sparks/ Con Sun UNDER (WNBA Total of the Week)

Jim Feist is riding a 12-game cash streak on WNBA totals and taps back into the OVER pool Wednesday as he plays LA Sparks vs Chicago Sky OVER.

Los Angeles is scoring 89.1 points per game, and its suspect defense has led to numerous high-scoring games. The Sparks topped Chicago 102-87 earlier in the season to reach 189 points combined.

Chicago responded with a 106-101 shootout versus Phoenix while continuing to get solid paint production from Kamilla Cardoso. The Sky should find opportunities to score against a Los Angeles defense posting a 114.1 defensive rating. At the same time, the Sparks have enough offense to get to 90 points.

Both teams can score quickly in transition, and neither defense stands out. So, expect these teams to go over the total on Wednesday.

Jim's Play: 607. LA Sparks / Chi Sky OVER

Sunday night’s game lived up to the high totals set by the Toronto Tempo and Golden State Valkyries as they combined for 175 points in Golden State’s 96-79 win. Both teams have enough firepower to easily reach the OVER on Tuesday when they again meet and the total hovers around 168½-170½.

Four Golden State players scored in double figures, shot well from behind the arc and scored 52 points after halftime. That’s enough to indicate this offense can roll into the 90s against Toronto.

Toronto has the offensive prowess to keep up. They average 88.5 points per game and their offensive rating is seventh best in the league. But their defense is dreadful, ranking last in defensive rating while giving up 92.9 points per game. They’ve had numerous games with totals of 193 or more as a result, posting scores of 193 against Minnesota, 181 against Atlanta, 198 against Indiana and 175 against Golden State recently.

Golden State plays at a slower pace than most teams, but Toronto’s defense and rebounding should give them extra chances. Morrow should also help Toronto earn more second-chance opportunities and provide another scoring threat after pouring in 17.3 points per game over her last three outings.

Golden State hitting the low 90s and Toronto scoring around 80 should cover the bet if the total settles around 168½ to 170½.

Jim's Play: 657. Tor Tempo / GS Valkyries OVER

Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky are two teams that I think will combine for OVER results Monday, surpassing 179 points set for total. Chicago has been playing extremely fast lately and has been scoring at a much higher rate. They score 87.6 points per game and the OVER is 3-1 in their last 4 games and 9-5 in their last 14 at home.

Phoenix also gets a boost in their backcourt with the addition of some new pieces, but Chicago also has the offense to score enough points to attack a Mercury defense that has allowed over 90 points per game during their last few outings. They combined for 174 points in their first regular season matchup and Chicago only shot 39% from the field, so you can expect some better shooting tonight and head for the 180s.

Los Angeles and Portland should both shoot well enough to hit OVER Sunday’s total. Neither team defends efficiently, with Los Angeles allowing nearly 94 points per game (worst in WNBA) and opponents shooting 48% against the Sparks. Portland hasn’t been much better, allowing upwards of 90 points per game and featuring one of the league’s lowest defensive ratings.

Los Angeles can still score with Dearica Hamby, Nneka Ogwumike, Cameron Brink and in transition. The Sparks average nearly 89 points per game while shooting around 46% from the field, so they’ll likely get their share of looks against Portland’s porous defense.

Portland should be able to put up points too. The Fire put up 83 points on Las Vegas while shooting under 40% from the field and getting to the free-throw line 25 times. Against a weaker Los Angeles defense, Portland should find better accuracy and could reach the mid-to-upper 80s.

They played to 89-72 in the first meeting of the regular season, but Portland’s offense has come a long way since then. With both teams looking to stay in playoff hunt and neither defense playing particularly well, there’s a path for Sunday’s total to go over the number.

Jim's Play: 645. LA Sparks / Por Fire OVER

The Indiana Fever average about 95.5 points per game (best in the league), shooting 47.9% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range. Caitlin Clark's vision in the open floor has led to easy buckets for Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Indiana's three-point shooters like Sophie Cunningham. Indiana scored 123 points against Connecticut, 108 against New York and 105 on Tuesday night in a win against Seattle; each of those contests had at least 196 points combined.

Portland Fire have shown they can put up points against Indiana. In the teams’ only meeting this season, the Fire beat the Fever 100-84 at the Moda Center with 184 combined points despite Caitlin Clark finishing with only six points. Now that Indiana's offense has caught fire, they won't need to score quite that much to get OVER the total on Friday.

Portland scored 83 points against the Las Vegas Aces while shooting just 39.7% from the field and 29% from three-point range. Megan DiLeo poured in 20 points, Frida Buhner added 16 off the bench, and Carla Leite was hampered by foul trouble. Shooting better from deep and getting more minutes from Leite should allow Portland to reach the high 80s or low 90s.

That's where Indiana' poor defense comes into play. The Fever rank near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency, and opponent free-throw rate (14th of 15 teams). Teams have knocked down shots against Indiana, but their perimeter defenders have often struggled to prevent drives to the basket. Once in the lane, opponents can go for layups, kick-out threes, or draw fouls at the rim.

Yes, the number is high. However, games involving the Indiana Fever are averaging over 200 points combined per game this season. Both of these teams have shown they can score in the high 80s and both have topped 100 points in a game this season. There's a clear path to reach the high 180s here.

Jim's Play: 637. Fever / Por Fire OVER

One clear trend has remained constant through the first two meetings between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces: scoring. Thursday’s game has a great opportunity to hit the OVER for four reasons. First, both offenses come into this one playing well. Second, neither defense has played consistently well all month. Third, recent betting trends are pointing straight downfield toward the OVER. Fourth, recent form says the same thing. 

Simply put, both teams have scored at will recently. New York won 113-109 over Los Angeles with Breanna Stewart posting 29 points and Sabrina Ionescu tallying 27 points of her own. The Liberty also got 41 points from reserves. Right now they have the necessary depth at every position to continue scoring at will when the starters come off the court. Whether they’re knocking down perimeter shots, attacking the rim or getting to the foul line New York has multiple avenues to reach 90 points.

Las Vegas responded by dominating the Portland Mercury offensively, winning 98-83 on 57.9% shooting from the field. A’ja Wilson finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Jackie Young added 25 points. Las Vegas is a tough team to contain at home when Wilson dominates the paint and Young creates offense from the perimeter.

Defensively, this matchup leans toward the OVER as well. New York has played poorly on defense all month and finished near the bottom of the league during July across multiple categories. Vegas has been inconsistent defensively too, especially on the boards and when defending opposing wing players. Second chance opportunities and uncontested looks from beyond the arc should be common themes on Thursday.

Finally, both of these teams have hit the OVER in their last five games (New York) and four consecutive games (Las Vegas). Vegas is 4-1 OVER as a favorite in its last five games. New York is 5-1 OVER in its last six games following a game where the team played on consecutive days. There’s plenty of momentum pushing toward the higher total.

Both teams played at a slower pace during their first two matchups this season. However, they’ve both been hitting on all cylinders offensively as of late. With the capabilities of Stewart, Ionescu, Wilson and Young all scoring 20-plus points on any given night, 200 points is possible without the need for overtime action.

Jim's Play: 631. NY Liberty / LV Aces OVER 

Indiana has the highest-scoring offense in the WNBA at 95.5 points per game while making 47.9% of their field goal attempts and 38.1% of their three-point field goal attempts. They come into the break hitting their stride on offense with 108 points against New York and then 123 points against Connecticut. Caitlin Clark is expected to play for Indiana and they also have Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston providing them with multiple reliable scorers.

Best indication of the total being hit was their last game against each other on July 17 when Indiana won 110-107 for a combined 217 points. Clark scored 45 points and had 10 assists. Mitchell added 30 points. Dominique Malone had a great game for Seattle scoring 28 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. That game should show Seattle will provide enough offense to not let Indiana have to hit the total by themselves.

Seattle also struggles inside defensively and they are shorthanded with Ezi Magbegor out and Malonga questionable. That should open up opportunities for Boston inside and could lead to Indiana getting some open looks from three if the Storm cave in towards the basket.

Indiana will be playing at one of the fastest paces in the league while shooting efficiently on offense. Seattle has shown they can score at least 90 points at home. Both teams are coming off of their break so expect another shootout.

Jim's Play: 617. Fever / Storm OVER (Total of the Month)

The WNBA matchup featuring the league’s two highest-scoring offenses has strong potential to surpass Saturday’s total. Indiana averages 93.2 points per game, which is tops in the league, and New York checks in at 85.6 points per game. The Liberty and Fever combined to score 178.8 points per game this season, which is already more than four points above the betting line.

Indiana has primary shootout responsibility. The Fever own the league’s best offensive rating and rank third in terms of pace. Fresh off her record-setting 45-point, 10-assist performance in Indiana’s 110-107 win against Seattle, Caitlin Clark will look to push the pace and can consistently create for herself and others early in the shot clock with driving layups and three-pointers. Clark’s speed and playmaking skills will give any Fever matchup a high offensive ceiling.

Indiana’s defense also sets up the Over in this spot. The Fever allow opponents to score 89 points per game and rank in the bottom half of the league defensively. The numbers tilt heavily in New York’s favor offensively because of players like Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. Stewart and Jones will look to attack the paint early, whereas Ionescu can punish Indiana’s defense if they collapse around the rim.

Lastly, the Liberty present defensive concerns as well. New York has been without substantial wing depth due to injuries and changes to the rotation have coincided with opponents shooting a higher percentage from three-point range. While tough travel situations often lead to slow starts, poor defense travels well. New York has also struggled to assemble a consistent lineup recently, winning just two of its last nine games. This makes defensive communication paramount against Clark and an Indiana offense that loves to attack in transition and create defensive rotations.

Both offenses rank among the WNBA leaders in points per game. The over/under projects comfortably into the 170s, and there are legitimate paths to see this game reach 180 or more on Saturday. .

Jim's Play: 635. NY Liberty / Ind Fever OVER 

I like the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever meeting on Friday to hit the Over. Indiana currently has one of the highest-scoring offenses in the WNBA, averaging 93.2 points per game this season and 97 ppg over their last three games. They scored 109 against Las Vegas before putting up 92 points against both Phoenix and Los Angeles to start their current four-game win streak. Though they ran into a defensive blast from Golden State last time out and went under. 

Indiana’s offense is fast-paced and should move the needle in the Over’s direction. Caitlin Clark attacks the paint immediately after securing rebounds, generates early offense from beyond the arc and forces defenses to keep rotating until she decides to shoot. Clark is questionable to play on Friday due to back spasms and a recent leg contusion, but is considered probable and should be able to lead Indiana’s offense once again. She’ll have plenty of help in Kelsey Mitchell, who is scoring 22.6 points per game.

Seattle hasn’t been a high-scoring team throughout the season but it did score 90 points in its previous game against Chicago. Natisha Hiedeman is averaging 15.8 points and 4.3 assists, and Awa Fam scored 14 points in her team’s last outing. The Storm are also getting into matchup they like against an Indiana defense allowing 89 points per game, which ranks fourth-worst in the WNBA.

Seattle and Indiana combined for 167 points in their first matchup this season, with Indiana coming away with a 89-78 victory. Both offenses should be improved since that game took place, as Seattle hit just 78 points the last time these two teams played. The Storm have scored at least 90 points in each of their last two games.

Betting against totals this high is always tricky because one team may not perform up to its capabilities.  Both defenses allow opponents to score at least 85.5 points per game, and Indiana has played a few games this season that reached the 180s. Given enough offense on both sides, today's total can be surpassed.

Jim's Play: 631. Sea Storm / Ind Fever OVER

Los Angeles’ recent scoring feats spearhead the argument to bet over on Monday. Sparks players are averaging 89.0 points per contest but are allowing 93.2 points to opponents, setting up a combined-game score well over the total of approximately 180 points every outing. It has gone over in 14 of its past 20 games when a number was posted as well.

Scoring prowess and porous defense often go hand in hand for Los Angeles.

Their attack comes off successive games with over 100 points. Los Angeles scored 106 and 102 points in their last two outings. Against Chicago on Friday, every starter scored in double digits while shooting 51% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc. Even if Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink are sidelined, Nneka Ogwumike, Dearica Hamby, Rae Burrell, Ariel Atkins, and Erica Wheeler can provide the Sparks offense with ample scoring.

Atlanta is due for a huge offensive night as well. Dream players are averaging 87.7 points per game, and Los Angeles happens to have one of the weakest defenses in the league. Atlanta scored 92 points in its previous outing against Portland and has dynamic guards in Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard to shred the Sparks defense, which has struggled mightily against the guard position and on the three-point line.

The projected game flow leans toward the over as well. Los Angeles enters the matchup full of confidence and should continue to apply pressure on offense. Atlanta lost their last game and will be looking for redemption at home. If both teams are still competitive heading into the fourth quarter, late game free throws can provide the triggers needed to surpass the posted total tonight. 

Jim's Play: 609. LA Sparks / Atlanta Dream OVER 180 

Sunday’s game has plenty of reasons to hit the total. For starters, both teams can score. Indiana leads the WNBA in offensive rating at approximately 93 points per game and Vegas is also in the top tier of the league at around 90 points per game. Each team features excellent spacing, three-point shooting and several guards who can create offense without needing a lot of room to operate.

Caitlin Clark’s potential return is also a great sign for over bettors. She is unlikely to play more than 25 minutes considering she will be on a minutes restriction coming off of injury. Even 20 minutes of Clark should accelerate the game, create more transition buckets and lead to more threes being attempted. She also makes life easier for Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston with her passing, and should give the Fever more upside than they had last Sunday.

Las Vegas should also score more efficiently than they did in the first meeting between these two teams. The Aces put up well under their season average of points in game one, but players like Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd make it difficult to imagine Vegas not posting comfortably on Sunday. Keep in mind they will also have motivation after being held to only 68 points in game one.

Neither team struggles to score, which I believe dictates the likely game script. Indiana wants to run the floor at every opportunity and Las Vegas is one of the best passing teams in the league, making it easy for them to exploit mismatches early in the defense’s positioning. A close fourth quarter could also lead to fouls and free throws down the stretch, another avenue for the over to hit.

Jim's Play: 607. Ind Fever / LV Aces OVER

I'll be taking the over here on Friday and it starts with defense. Both teams lack defensive identity. Chicago is allowing opponents 88.8 points per game and the Sparks have consistently been a part of very high-scoring affairs. Los Angeles has averaged 90.4 points over its last five games while allowing 101.4 during that same span.

The Sparks should be able to move the ball efficiently against a bottom-third defense in Chicago. Los Angeles is scoring 88.4 points per game on 45.3% shooting from the floor, providing them with enough offensive firepower to reach 90 points at home. Chicago counters with an 86.1 points per game attack so expect both teams to contribute if the total lands in the upper 170s or around 180.

Chicago will likely be without Skylar Diggins and DiJonai Carrington, which could also bode well for the over. The duo’s absence obviously hinders Chicago’s perimeter defense and its ability to contain the Sparks guards. Chicago could lose a little bit of creation offensively without Diggins, but you have to assume they’ll also play at a faster pace and rely more on early offense instead of bogging things down with half-court sets.

Neither team has shown any sort of consistency on defense, which is why I'm looking at the over in this spot. Both teams should feel like they have a punchers chance in this game and attacking might be the best option for both teams. Expect an aggressive pace with tons of transition baskets and late game free throws if the game is close.

Jim's Play: 645. Chi Sky / LA Sparks OVER

I'll be looking at taking the UNDER here on Tuesday in the Dallas Wings vs New York Liberty contest. 

Forget about how these two clubs play on paper; let’s look at the first meeting. Dallas defeated New York 91-76 earlier this season and even though Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd erupted for big games, the final score was still just 167 total points. Remember that because the number is WAY higher this time around, hovering around 175.5, and if the first meeting is any indication these two teams can play a solid game of basketball without it turning into a shootout.

Speaking of defensive promise, New York should also come out with more firewalled effort on that end of the floor. The Liberty got lit up by Dallas on the break, particularly from Fudd on the perimeter, in their initial matchup, but NY has home cooking with motivation to adjust after getting dismantled. New York’s roster has enough guards to slow the pace down, force Dallas into half-court situations, and make Wing players work deep into the shot clock.

Speaking of injuries, Dallas's Satou Sabally won’t play while Leonie Fiebich is also out for the Liberty. Both players’ absence hurts New York’s scoring potential, size, and spacing within their rotation. Sure they have All-Stars like Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, but key cogs being out of the lineup makes it difficult for offensive efficiency to stay high throughout all 48 minutes.

Dallas is an offensive powerhouse, but they’re still a young team traveling to the Big Apple to face a veteran Liberty squad. I believe New York will make Fudd and Bueckers see various defensive schemes, limit easy buckets in transition, and force Dallas into contested jumpers.

Both teams will give maximum effort like it’s a playoff game, they match up with identical records, and both teams have enough defensive hunger to prevent this game from getting out of hand. Expect New York to play with more pace, Dallas to endure tougher scoring droughts, and the game’s final score to RESIDE UNDER the total.

Jim's Play: 625. Dal Wings / NY Liberty UNDER 

This Monday’s Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics UNDER makes plenty of sense, as the number sits around 156 and the matchup profiles more like a grind-it-out game than a track meet. Golden State is 14-7 ATS, Washington is 10-9 ATS, and the Valkyries’ success comes from defense as three of their last eight opponents scored under 70 points.

Golden State’s scoring output also trends under. In their last four games before Saturday’s 88-83 victory over Atlanta, the Valkyries played games that ended 76-67, 78-75 and 77-66, all well below the current total. It proves Golden State is fine with winning games in the 70s and making teams earn it with defense, spacing, and half-court basketball rather than trying to out-run opponents.

Washington has offensive problems as well with Sonia Citron out of the lineup with a knee injury. Losing Citron is significant because she scored 32 points before exiting Saturday’s game, so Washington must lean more on Georgia Amoore, Lucy Olsen and the supporting cast to create offense.

Washington has been winning lately, but they haven’t been winning pretty. The Mystics turned the ball over 27 times (19 in the first half) against Atlanta, which is careless and could kill offensive momentum. Golden State is the type of defensive team that can force Washington into long, wasted trips down the floor instead of easy buckets.

Expect the Valkyries to slow down the pace of this game, lock down the perimeter and make Washington work into the shot clock. With Citron sidelined, Golden State’s defense rolling and both teams possessing the ability to fall into half-court sets, the total feels too high.

Jim's Play: 619. GS Valkyries / WAS Mystics UNDER

Sunday’s matchup between the Dallas Wings and Toronto Tempo has a clear trajectory to hitting the OVER, and it begins with both offenses creating shots. The total is set high in the 182.5 to 183.5 range, but these two teams have the scoring upside to reach it.

Dallas enters Sunday averaging 88.3 points per game, but they have multiple options led by Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Jessica Shepard, and Arike Ogunbowale. Bueckers is Dallas’ most important player at the moment though, as she is red hot offensively. Finding shots in rhythm down the stretch allows Dallas to continuously pile on points.

Toronto can certainly match Dallas scoring wise. They average 90.8 points per game and have gotten into a groove lately thanks to Marina Mabrey. Brittney Sykes will be sidelined for this game, which means Mabrey will continue to run Toronto’s offense and look to create shots at will.

Toronto is averaging 91.9 points per game against while Dallas has struggled defensively on the road, allowing 92.5 points per game away from home. This is the exact profile OVER bettors are looking for when comparing two teams: offenses that can score, but defenses that leave opportunities open for the opponent to burn them back.

An added bonus to this game is the event feel. Toronto is hosting Dallas in Canada which should create plenty of juice from the opening tip. Toronto could come out hot as hosts, and Dallas has the firepower to knock down three after three. Dallas could go on early run, and Toronto has proven they have the weapons to keep up.

Expect a high pace game with perimeter shots galore, and free throws late to propel this game OVER the total.

Jim's Play: 615. Dal Wings / Tor Tempo OVER 

Jim Feist likes the OVER in Friday’s WNBA game between Chicago and Las Vegas and it’s right in his wheelhouse why the number is high for a reason but can still hit.  This total is nowhere near a ridiculous number for these teams as the last meeting between these teams went OVER that total with ease as they combined for 206 points in a 107-99 Las Vegas victory. THAT was not a fluke basketball game. That contest had everything. Pace. Shot-making. Free throws. Points inside. Points outside. Both teams getting buckets from multiple areas of the floor. When a game goes OVER deep into NBA territory just THREE days prior, you have to factor in the offensive momentum coming into this one.

You also have to take into consideration just how deadly Las Vegas is on offense. The Aces average 90.7 points per game as a team. Las Vegas’ trio of Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Chennedy Carter can manufacture offense on a consistent basis, and if A’ja Wilson is able to suit up and play, wow do the Aces have another lethal weapon. Of course Wilson’s availability is huge. However, even if she can’t go or is limited, Vegas still has enough firepower off the guard play and shot-making ability to impose its will and score on Chicago.

Chicago is more than capable of keeping pace as well. The Sky average 86.4 points per game and proved they could score against this Aces defense in the first matchup as Kamilla Cardoso and Azura Stevens led the way with 24 points apiece. Chicago attacked the paint, they got easy buckets off offensive rebounds, and they were able to score from the perimeter too. THAT is what players of the OVER want to see.

When all is said and done, the OVER has its best chance based on the defensive matchups. Chicago has been outright bad defending at times and Las Vegas comes into this game with the swagger of a team that KNOWS it can score at will if it gets going. Conversely, the Aces have been shooting themselves in the foot by giving up points as well, especially at home. Chicago will score, especially if Vegas builds a big lead and the Sky are forced to throw everything they have at the Aces basket.

You have to like this total just like Jim Feist does. Over 200 points wasn’t a fluke EVEN THOUGH it likely won’t reach that absurd amount again. Both teams have proven they can score on each other. Vegas brings an unstoppable offense while Chicago proved in Game 1 they can hang with them. Expect another fast-paced affair with buckets in the first quarter and buckets in the fourth. OVER. 

Jim's Play: 609. Chi Sky / LV Aces OVER

Jim Feist is taking the OVER on Thursday’ WNBA matchup between the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun. Thursday night features one of his favorite total types; spots where the number might be high, but the game flow still favors the points.

The total is currently sitting around 171 and Dallas sports one of the league’s best offenses heading into this game, scoring 88.4 points per contest. The Wings shoot 45.9 percent from the floor, tally 22.3 assists per game, and just have everything you look for in terms of offensive balance. Connecticut counters with Paige Bueckers (19.9 PPG, 5.9 APG), Azzi Fudd (13.6 PPG), and enough wing scoring to keep up with Dallas. Which means both teams have multiple shot creators, multiple guards who can attack the basket, and enough perimeter shooting to encourage an up-tempo game script.

Just because Connecticut sits near the bottom of the standings doesn’t mean they aren’t playing with confidence. The Sun have won two straight games and head back home to Huntington Bridge with an opportunity to snap their season-best three game winning streak. Connecticut attacking with confidence matters for the over because they aren’t a dead offense plodding their way into this game. Second-year forward Azzi Fudd is proving herself as a reliable scoring option, Paige Buecker is playing her best basketball of the season, and with Brittney Griner controlling the paint and Olivia Nelson- Ododa patrolling the glass the Sun can definitely do their part.

Dallas’ pace of play and offensive efficiency is probably the biggest over angle on the board. The Wings like to play fast, move the ball, and generate easy baskets before the defense has a chance to set. An up-tempo Dallas squad forces Connecticut to play on the rush as well, especially if Dallas kicks this game off hitting shots from the perimeter. 

The situational setup also favors scores flying through the WNBA record books. Dallas is coming off of back-to-back losses and will want to come out swinging, attacking the basket with offensive purpose. Connecticut is at home, playing with confidence, and facing a Dallas Wings team that has struggled mightily to lock down on defense during key stretches of games. You basically have a recipe for both teams coming out of the gates swinging.

The rebounding numbers set up well for the over as well. Connecticut is one of the league’s top offensive rebounding teams, and Dallas forces extra possessions with steals and full court pressure. Depending possessions are like gold for players hitting the over, especially when you have two teams that boast multiple individual scorers that can turn second chance opportunities into points.

Thursday night features everything Jim Feist loves to see when attacking the over. Dallas boasts a high-end offense, Connecticut is rolling confidence-wise, both teams have complementary scorers all over the floor, and the game flow will likely involve pace, transition baskets, and late game free throws. Bet on Dallas pushing the pace, Connecticut answering at home, and the scoreboard continuing to rise.

Jim's Play: 603. Wings / Sun OVER

Jim Feist has the OVER circled on Tuesday’s WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Final between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty. There’s so much star power in this matchup that high-scoring WNBA championship game seems likely. Place A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Satou Sabally on the court and you’re not expecting struggle offense. You expect TWO teams full of offensive weapons, capable of exchanging buckets all game long.

Start with how both teams score. Vegas averages almost 90 points per game while New York falls in the same range. This total is predicated on two high-scoring teams colliding before even accounting for the pace, shooters, and MVP caliber talent on both rosters. Both teams should be able to score here. They do not need to one carry the other. In fact, if both teams simply play to the level they are used to offensively this matchup has every opportunity to surpass the number.

Speaking of talented scorers Vegas rolls into this WNBA Finals with the leagues best scorer in A’ja Wilson. Wilson will have plenty of motivation after being contained in the final meeting with New York. It matters. Superstars make adjustments and Wilson is too good to disappear again. If she gets going early New York will have to pay extra attention which should open up the floor for Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and open Aces shooters.

There’s plenty of firepower for New York as well. Breanna Stewart can score inside and out, Jonquel Jones provides New York with a legit inside presence and Sabrina Ionescu gets hot from deep in the blink of an eye. New York also passes the ball well enough to capitalize on defensive breakdowns, which will be crucial against a Las Vegas team that has had their fair share of untimely lapses on that end of the floor this season. If Stewart and company find clean looks from three and control the boards it won’t take long for New York to climb high on the scoreboard.

Oddly enough, the under in the last meeting could bode well for the over here. Both coaches now have a better idea of what did and didn’t work in that game and both offenses should look to improve upon what they did last time these two met. Las Vegas needs to get better looks for Wilson. New York will look to attack mismatches with Stewart and Jones. Knowing what they know now we could see a much improved offensive showing in a rematch with this much talent involved.

There’s also a Championship Game at stake. Late game points will definitely be on the board in this one. Free throws, drawn charges, sloppy fouls, and adrenaline fueled shot-making can all send this total soaring in the fourth. Vegas and New York both have too much talent to let their guard down in a close game. If this WNBA Finals is close in the fourth, bettors on the over will love the final two minutes of play.

Combine everything above and you have yourself a WNBA Total that Jim Feist is fond of. Elite offenses on both sides, superstar scorers, motivation for Vegas to win WNBA Commissioner's Cup,  and enough defensive question marks to keep points flowing throughout the contest. 

Jim's Play: 651. LV Aces / NY Liberty OVER 

Jim Feist’s WNBA Total of the Month for June is on the OVER in Friday’s Portland Fire vs. Chicago Sky matchup. This total looks too low for two teams that have already played games of 181 and 179 points against each other this season. The first two meetings both flew over this number, and the matchup still points to another fast-paced, high-scoring game.

Chicago just showed exactly how this matchup can get loose, putting up 101 points in Wednesday’s win while dominating inside and getting production from all over the floor. The Sky had seven players score in double figures and controlled the paint and second-chance opportunities, which is a major reason this rematch is set up for more points. When a team can score that efficiently without relying only on three-point shooting, the over becomes very dangerous.

Portland should help push this game over as well. The Fire shot just 32 percent in that last meeting, which is far below their normal offensive standard, so there is strong reason to expect better scoring production in the rematch. Both teams also allow plenty of points on the defensive end, and with the total sitting at 173.5, this number still looks short based on their head-to-head history and season-long defensive results.

Everything lines up for another high-scoring battle on Friday. The earlier matchups sailed over, Chicago is playing with confidence offensively, and Portland is in a strong bounce-back shooting spot. Put it all together and this game has the look of another scoreboard burner, making the OVER the right side and a strong WNBA Total of the Month release for Jim Feist.

Jim's Play: 603. Por Fire / Chi Sky OVER (June Total of the Month)