Top WNBA Picks and Predictions Today (Favorites to Respond Early in Game 2 Playoff Matches)

Our WNBA “Best Bets” have gotten off to a great start through the first round of the postseason; going 3-1-0 ATS in the early going. A late isolation basket in Game 1 from the Washington Mystics cost us a perfect 4-0 start, as Washington tied up Seattle 18-18; as the Storm 1Q -1 bet failed to come through.

Saturday’s WNBA action is divided up with the Chicago Sky looking to bounce back vs. the New York Liberty in an 11 a.m. local time tip-off in Chicago. A win for the Sky would force a Game 3 back in Brooklyn in a winner-take-all matchup to move onto the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces started off slow, but finished with a bang in Game 1 vs. a short-handed Phoenix Mercury team; winning by 16 on Wednesday night.

Let’s get into today’s matchups, and of course, our best bets!

WNBA Best Bets Record to Date

• WNBA Best Bets Overall Record: 87-76-3
• WNBA Playoffs Record: 3-1-0 

WNBA Odds, Spread and Totals for Every Game (Saturday, August 20)

New York Liberty vs. Chicago Sky

• Spread: Liberty +8.5 (-110) | Sky -8.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Liberty +330 | Sky -450
• Total: 169.5 (OVER -110 | UNDER -110)

Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces

• Spread: Mercury +17.5 (-110) | Aces -17.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Mercury +1200 | Aces -3333
• Total: 164.5 (OVER -110 | UNDER -110)

All odds listed above are via BetMGM Sportsbook (Liberty-Sky) and WynnBET (Mercury-Aces).

Best WNBA Picks For Saturday, August 20

• Liberty vs. Sky UNDER 169.5 (-110)
• Sky 1Q -2.5 (-115)
• Mercury vs. Aces 1H OVER 82 (-107)

Liberty vs. Sky Best Bets

In her postgame press conference Wednesday night, Sky forward and future WNBA Hall of Famer Candace Parker kept harping on her team's inability to get key stops against the New York Liberty in Game 1.

"Defensively, we have to do a better job. Rotations... if we're gonna put two on the ball, having pressure... We gotta run a fluid offense and get stops defensively."

I'm backing the defending champs to get those key stops Saturday afternoon for a few reasons.

New York's terrific offensive efficiency in Game 1 was not the team they were all throughout the regular season. On Thursday night, they had an offensive rating of 121. Over the regular season, that number was down at 99. The Liberty ranked 9th in points/game, 10th in possessions/40 minutes, and 9th in points/100 possessions. They've had some great offensive outbursts, but Thursday was not a reflection of who they truly were in a far larger sample.

New York's defense, despite giving up 91 to Chicago, has seen a resurgence in the second half; finishing with the third-best defensive efficiency in the league.

Furthermore, the Sky finished the year allowing just 81.3 PPG (4th), and ranked fourth overall in opponent points/100 possessions. Their defense down the stretch of the season wasn't great, but considering they still were a top 4 team indicates their ability on that side of the ball.

Between the Liberty's improved defense in the second half, as well as Chicago's urgency to slow down Ionescu and company offensively, I love the under in an early tip-off from Chicago.

PICK: Liberty vs. Sky UNDER 169.5 (-110)

BONUS PICK: Sky 1Q -2.5 (-115)

Mercury vs. Aces Best Bets

As much as I commend Phoenix for fighting through the adversity of this season and game planning perfectly vs. the Aces for the bulk of Game 1, I can't imagine that scenario comes to fruition later tonight.

Las Vegas was on pace for a season low in points scored before running away from a gassed Phoenix team in the middle of the 4th quarter. Even with several days off, with all the injuries piling up for the Mercury, expect the Aces to really turn up the pace in Game 2.

Under Becky Hammon, the Aces finished the regular season ranked first in points/game, second in possessions/40 min, and first in points/100 possessions. They are a downhill, transition team by nature, and Phoenix mucked it up for as long as they could in Game 1.

Meanwhile, the Mercury, despite their improved defense down the stretch still finished 10th in opponents points/game and eighth in opponent points/100 possessions. The Aces know how to combat their defensive game plan moving forward, and I fully expect them to exploit it in the early going; putting this one out of reach.

PICK: 1H OVER 82 (-107)

Follow all of Ben's betting plays in real-time HERE!