WNBA Best Bets: Wednesday Picks Featuring Lynx, Aces and Wings

The Minnesota Lynx own the top record in the WNBA and have won six consecutive games. And now they are getting their best player back – two-time league MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier.

If you have a 21-6 mark without your star player, you figure to at least continue that pace over the second half of the season. And look, Minnesota plays the worst team in the league on Wednesday night in the Seattle Storm.

The Las Vegas Aces, who boast the second-best record, will visit the Washington Mystics on Wednesday. Also, Paige Bueckers is questionable after a concussion as the Dallas Wings visit the Portland Fire as play wraps up prior to the All-Star break.

MINNESOTA LYNX AT SEATTLE STORM

Collier has been sidelined all season after surgeries on both ankles during the offseason. This will mark her first game in nearly 11 months so some rest can be expected. Also unclear is how many minutes she will play. If Minnesota steamrolls the woeful Storm, she might not be needed and her point total might be compromised.

Collier will love receiving passes from star rookie point guard Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Miles registered 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Monday’s 105-102 win over the Storm, while Kayla McBride matched her season best of six 3-pointers and scored 33 points.

Seattle (6-22) has lost five straight games after playing Minnesota close and receiving 26 points from rookie Flau’jae Johnson. The organization fired Noelle Quinn after 25-15 and 23-21 seasons – her teams made the playoffs in three of her four full seasons – but things have unraveled under new coach Sonja Raman.

Olivia Miles to record seven or more assists, -105 (DraftKings)

LAS VEGAS ACES AT WASHINGTON MYSTICS

The Aces (18-7) rolled to a 109-83 road victory over the Toronto Tempo on Monday and it is only the second-most impressive victory of the month. Las Vegas delivered a franchise-record 48-point victory on July 11 when it steamrolled the visiting Phoenix Mercury 106-58.

Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson has scored 20 or more points in all four games since she returned from an ankle injury. Wilson is on her way to MVP No. 5 with averages of 25.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals. She finally turns 30 next month.

The Mystics (13-12) just split a two-game set against the host Golden State Valkyries and have won five of their past eight games, a stretch that began with a quadruple-overtime victory over the Portland Fire on June 28. Washington could use better long-range accuracy from Sonia Cintron, who is just 3-for-24 from behind the arc over her last seven appearances.

Aces minus 6.5 points spread, -110 (DraftKings)

DALLAS WINGS AT PORTLAND FIRE

The Wings (17-9) had a six-game winning streak halted with Monday’s 99-98 overtime loss to the visiting New York Liberty with Bueckers sitting out the contest. She is listed as questionable for the game in Portland and her availability might not be clear until close to gametime.

Bueckers has excelled by scoring 22 or more points in eight of her last nine appearances. She had 25 points in 32 minutes in Sunday’s 90-82 home win over the Los Angeles Sparks prior to the late-game head injury. Arike Ogunbowale stepped up with 29 points against the Liberty.

The expansion Fire (11-15) have lost 11 of 16 games since a solid 6-4 start but have split their past six outings. Portland edged visiting Dallas 84-83 on June 13 when Bridget Carleton scored 20 points. Bueckers missed that game with an ankle injury.

Fire plus 5.5 points spread, -113 (DraftKings)