WNBA Picks Today: Caitlin Clark, Dream and A’ja Wilson Props

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers meet on the court once again when the Indiana Fever visit the Dallas Wings on Thursday night. High-profile stars Clark (Fever) and Bueckers (Wings) seem to bring the best out of each other when they square off.

The contest is being played in Dallas as opposed to the Wings’ normal home in Arlington to allow more fans to attend. This is the final regular-season meeting between the teams. The clubs split the first two meetings.

Former MVP Nneka Ogwumike is back on the floor after announcing her upcoming retirement as the Los Angeles Sparks host the Atlanta Dream. The Las Vegas Aces host the Connecticut Sun in what could be a one-sided affair.

INDIANA FEVER AT DALLAS WINGS

The Fever have won five consecutive games to move into third place but the strength of star Kelsey Mitchell (illness) will be something to watch. Mitchell has scored 20 or more points in 20 straight games to match A’ja Wilson’s WNBA record – Mitchell is the first to do it in a single season -- but she had to exit Tuesday’s 101-95 road win over the Toronto Tempo early.

Mitchell averaged 26.5 points in the two games against Dallas while Clark is averaging 24.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. If Mitchell remains under the weather, Clark will be a candidate to record her fifth 30-point effort of the season.

Bueckers averaged 24.5 points in the two games against Indiana and would like to help fading Dallas halt a stretch in which it has lost seven of its last nine games. Also, No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd was ruled out for the season on Wednesday and will soon undergo right knee surgery.

Caitlin Clark to score 24-plus points, -108 (DraftKings)

ATLANTA DREAM AT LOS ANGELES SPARKS

The Sparks are dragging with five straight losses but perhaps Ogwumike’s retirement decision can prompt an increased level of fight. Los Angeles last won a home game on July 10 and it has gone 2-12 overall since that victory over the Chicago Sky.

Ogwumike, 36, no longer flashes her 2016 MVP form, but she is still having a solid campaign with averages of 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds. Atlanta’s top inside threat is Angel Reese, who had 23 points and 13 rebounds in a 101-92 home win over the Sparks on July 13.

Allisha Gray had 20 points in that first meeting and has scored 20 or more in five of Atlanta’s last six games. The Dream have won nine of their past 12 games and figure to outclass the Sparks in the first of two meetings in five days (the other is Monday, also in L.A.).

Dream minus 7.5 points spread, -115 (DraftKings)

CONNECTICUT SUN AT LAS VEGAS ACES

The Aces have dropped four of their past six games and have slipped to fourth place so they certainly have reason to kick it up a gear. Las Vegas was outworked by the Dream in a 97-82 home loss on Tuesday and also was sloppy with 17 turnovers leading to 18 Atlanta points.

Wilson registered 27 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots against the Dream and has scored 20 or more points in 15 of her last 17 appearances. She scored a season-best 45 in a 101-94 win at Connecticut on May 15. The Aces also beat the Sun two nights earlier.

Connecticut has won just nine games all season and two have come in the past four games, including Tuesday’s 85-77 win over the Sparks. Olivia Nelson-Ododa has notched back-to-back double-doubles and has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in five of the past nine contests.

A’ja Wilson to score over 25-plus points, -123 (DraftKings)