WNBA Tonight: Paige Bueckers Takes Center Stage as Wings Clash with Valkyries in San Francisco

Paige Bueckers Set to Shine Against Valkyries

Tonight at 10 PM (ET), the Dallas Wings (7-17) travel to the Chase Center to take on the Golden State Valkyries (10-12) in a highly anticipated WNBA matchup. While the Valkyries hold a better record and are favored at home, all eyes will undoubtedly be on Dallas's rookie sensation, Paige Bueckers, as she looks to continue her impressive inaugural season.

Bueckers has been a beacon of hope for the struggling Wings, leading the team in points (18.2 PPG), assists (5.5 APG), and steals (1.7 SPG). She recently tied Caitlin Clark as the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 300 points and 100 assists, achieving the feat in just 19 games. Her consistent strong performances suggest she'll be a central figure in tonight's game.

Bueckers' Expected Performance

Points Scored: The Dimers Pro data suggests a close call for Bueckers exceeding the Over 17.5 points scored mark. Her projection sits at 17.1 points with a 49.1% probability, giving a slight edge to the under. However, she has cleared 16.5 points in 7 of her last 11 appearances, indicating her scoring prowess. With a best odds of +115 available at Caesars Sportsbook for Over 17.5, it's an enticing proposition for those who believe she'll have a big night, especially given her 20-point performance in the Wings' previous win over the Valkyries.

Assists: Bueckers has demonstrated her playmaking ability, recording Over 5.5 assists in 6 of her last 11 games. With the Wings looking to generate offense, her passing will be crucial. The +125 odds for this prop present a solid value play.

Rebounds: Interestingly, the data points to Bueckers collecting fewer than 3.5 rebounds tonight, having done so in 7 of her last 13 appearances. While she's a well-rounded player, rebounding isn't typically her primary focus, especially with other bigs on the Wings roster. The -105 odds for this under seem to align with her recent trend.

Game Predictions

Spread: The Golden State Valkyries are favored by -4.5 points with a 52% probability, at -120 odds. The Wings, despite a recent road win against Seattle, have a dismal 2-10 road record. The Valkyries also hold a strong home-court advantage, with 7 of their 10 wins coming at Chase Center. While the Wings did win their previous matchup against the Valkyries (80-71), that game was at home. Given Golden State's home performance and the Wings' struggles on the road, the Valkyries covering the spread seems more likely.

Moneyline: The Valkyries are the clear favorites on the moneyline at -175, with a 68% win probability. The Wings are at +150 with a 32% win probability. This aligns with the spread and the Valkyries' overall stronger record and home advantage.

Points Total (Over/Under): The total points for the game are set at 163. The "Under" has a slight edge at 51% probability with -110 odds, while the "Over" sits at 49% with -110 odds. The Valkyries tend to play lower-scoring games, averaging 79.1 points per game and allowing 78.0. The Wings, on the other hand, average 82 points but allow 85.8. Their previous matchup resulted in 151 total points (80-71 Wings win). Considering Golden State's defensive tendencies and the prior head-to-head, the Under 163 points looks to be the more probable outcome.

Final Takeaway

While the Dallas Wings face an uphill battle on the road against the Golden State Valkyries, Paige Bueckers will undoubtedly be at the forefront of their efforts. Expect her to be heavily involved in the offense, driving to score and facilitating for her teammates. Though her points total might be a tight call, her assist numbers are likely to impress. For those looking to wager, the Valkyries covering the spread and the game going under the total points appear to be the sharper plays.