WNBA Odds, Best Bets: 3 Monday Picks for Sun vs. Mercury (July 1)
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images. Pictured: Brittney Griner (Mercury)
The anticipation for Tuesday's Fever vs. Aces showdown is heating up, but before we get to Caitlin Clark vs. the defending champs, we have two games in the WNBA on Monday.
And it seems all the betting value is on the Sun vs. Mercury.
So, here's WNBA odds and best bets, including three Monday picks for Sun vs. Mercury on Monday, July 1.
WNBA Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our WNBA betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 10 p.m. | ||
| 10 p.m. | ||
| 10 p.m. | ||
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our WNBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Sun vs. Mercury
The Mercury just lost 88-82 to the Fever yesterday, so they're on the second night of a back-to-back and have lost two of three.
The Sun have lost three of four and have a four-day rest advantage, but they're known primarily for their league-best stifling defense.
The Sun beat the Mercury, 70-47, at home earlier this year, and their games have fallen short of 160 points in six of their last seven (and the only over was an overtime contest).
I think this is an under, and possibly a Sun win given the rest, and well, they're better.
Pick: Under 160
By Jim Turvey
Despite being one of the biggest players in the WNBA, Brittney Griner has never been an elite rebounder, averaging 7.4 this season, which is right in line with her career average of 7.5.
That would seem to make this the right line, but based on the matchup, I actually show a lot of value on the under.
The Sun are by far the slowest-paced team, which is always going to create value on players' unders if the books aren't adjusting their regular lines.
The Sun are also one of the best rebounding teams in the league, handily allowing the fewest rebounds per game to opponents.
While some of that is double counting the pace, they're third in offensive rebound rate and fourth in defensive rebound rate, making them an elite overall rebounding team, in addition to the pace factor when looking just at the number of rebounds.
I would play this to under 6.5 to even money and at any number for under 7.5.
Pick: Brittney Griner Under 7.5 Rebounds
This is just too high for me.
The Mercury have the Sun, the league's peskiest defense, and are coming off hanging just 82 on the Fever at home, who came back from 15 down to beat them.
Who knows, even as the Sun lost three of four, maybe it could be a bounce back spot for Phoenix.
But I don't foresee that for Kahleah Copper, at least.
Copper has gone under 19.5 points in three of four and four of six, and the Sun defense is the last you want to see on a back-to-back. She shot 3-for-15 yesterday and 3-for-17 in the two games before.
Against the Sun earlier this year — in a 70-47 loss — Copper had seven points on 2-of-11 shooting.
Pick: Kahleah Copper Under 19.5 Points
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