WNBA Best Bets: Three Picks to Consider on Tuesday’s Slate

Caitlin Clark might have entered the MVP conversation but when did she even become the top player on the Indiana Fever?

That’s Kelsey Mitchell singing “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” after receiving little of it despite her ongoing record of 16 consecutive 20-point outings.

Mitchell and Clark play off one another well, making Clark’s passing ability a big help while setting up Mitchell for open shots. The 30-year-old Mitchell ranks second in the league with a career-best 24.2 scoring average while also shooting all-time clips of 50.4% overall and 43.5& from 3-point range.

The Las Vegas Aces are a tired group as they square off with the Washington Mystics. And Kelsey Plum will not be playing against her former team – the Los Angeles Sparks -- as the Phoenix Mercury ruled her out with a lower left-leg injury.

NEW YORK LIBERTY AT INDIANA FEVER

Mitchell (25-plus points, -116) scored 27 points and Clark (23-plus points, -106) added 26 points and 11 assists as the Fever beat the host Chicago Sky 90-86 on Sunday to end a two-game slide. Clark picked up what was her eighth technical foul of the season in that contest before it was rescinded so she is available for this game.

The Liberty have won four consecutive games, including a 111-71 home drubbing of the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. Marine Johannes scored a career-best 27 points in 22 minutes off the bench and New York held a dominating 45-24 rebounding advantage.

Sabrina Ionescu had just five points against the Aces and has made just 6 of 24 shots over the last two games. Breanna Stewart has averaged 28 points and eight rebounds as New York and Indiana split their first two meetings and she might decide who wins this contest.

Breanna Stewart to score 24+ points, +105 (DraftKings)

WASHINGTON MYSTICS AT LAS VEGAS ACES

The Aces are coming off a 2-3 road span over nine days that ended with the beatdown in New York. Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon saw the fatigue among her star players and sat out A’ja Wilson (top women’s player on the planet) and fellow All-Stars Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray and the Aces had zero chance without the trio.

The hope is that the rest on Sunday will have the three back in top form against Washington, which has won seven straight games and is a stellar 11-3 over its last 14 games. The Mystics rallied for a 100-99 home victory over the Aces on July 22 despite Wilson producing 38 points and have a lot of confidence entering consecutive games against the Aces in Las Vegas.

Washington rolled to a 95-75 home win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday as Shakira Austin continued her stellar play with 19 points. Austin has recorded four straight double-doubles and is averaging 23.8 points and 11.3 rebounds during the stretch.

Mystics +3.5, -115 (DraftKings)

PHOENIX MERCURY AT LOS ANGELES SPARKS

The Sparks dealt Plum to the Mercury on Aug. 2 in what surely displayed they have entered rebuilding mode. The struggles have continued as Los Angeles has lost eight of 10 games to fall to 10th place and it stands six games behind the Dallas Wings for the final playoff spot.

Phoenix is in even worse shape by residing in 12th place but it coveted Plum, a five-time All-Star. Yet the Mercury have dropped three straight contests and don’t have much realistic hope of getting back into the playoff hunt.

The Sparks are 2-1 against Phoenix this season with Dearica Hamby contributing 27 points and 15 rebounds in their first win before Plum (43) outscored now-teammate Kahleah Copper (41) as both established career highs in LA’s overtime win in meeting No. 2. In the Mercury win, Alyssa Thomas had a triple-double with 19 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds.

Mercury +1.5, -108 (DraftKings)