Jul 22, 2026
Wings vs. Fire prediction: Paige Bueckers projected to score 19 points in Wednesday's WNBA matchup [7/22/2026]
Read Article WNBA first basket picks and predictions for Thursday, July 2, 2026
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get first basket predictions today guided by expert analysis of WNBA slate on 7/2.
Our WNBA first basket picks and predictions for today—Thursday, July 2, 2026—are live with the Mystics' Kiki Iriafen projected as the most likely player to score first.
Dimers’ first basket projections draw on key first basket stats, including player efficiency, shot frequency, and expected starting lineups, forming part of our daily WNBA player projections.
Iriafen, Paige Bueckers and Dominique Malonga lead Thursday’s most likely first basket scorers, while we also highlight tonight's top first basket value picks by comparing real-time odds to model-generated probabilities.
WNBA first basket predictions tonight (July 2, 2026)
| Player (Team) | FB Probability |
|---|---|
| Kiki Iriafen (Mystics) | 15.8% |
| Paige Bueckers (Wings) | 14.8% |
| Dominique Malonga (Storm) | 14.7% |
| Kahleah Copper (Mercury) | 14.2% |
| Brittney Griner (Sun) | 12.2% |
| Rhyne Howard (Dream) | 12.0% |
| Angel Reese (Dream) | 11.9% |
| Sonia Citron (Mystics) | 11.4% |
| Jessica Shepard (Wings) | 11.1% |
| Aaliyah Edwards (Sun) | 11.0% |
| Natisha Hiedeman (Storm) | 10.8% |
| Allisha Gray (Dream) | 10.7% |
| Alyssa Thomas (Mercury) | 10.7% |
| Azzi Fudd (Wings) | 10.3% |
| Aneesah Morrow (Sun) | 10.2% |
| Leila Lacan (Sun) | 9.7% |
| Flau'jae Johnson (Storm) | 9.5% |
| Alexa Held (Mercury) | 9.2% |
| Awa Fam (Storm) | 9.0% |
| Shakira Austin (Mystics) | 8.7% |
| Arike Ogunbowale (Wings) | 8.4% |
| Cassandre Prosper (Mystics) | 8.4% |
| Valeriane Ayayi (Mercury) | 8.1% |
| Jordin Canada (Dream) | 7.9% |
| Monique Akoa-Makani (Mercury) | 7.7% |
| Naz Hillmon (Dream) | 7.6% |
| Kennedy Burke (Sun) | 6.9% |
| Jordan Horston (Storm) | 6.1% |
| Georgia Amoore (Mystics) | 5.7% |
| Alanna Smith (Wings) | 5.4% |
WNBA first basket picks today (July 2, 2026)
| Player | Team | Edge | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azzi Fudd | Wings | 3.1% | +1300 | 10.3% |
| Sonia Citron | Mystics | 3.1% | +1100 | 11.4% |
| Arike Ogunbowale | Wings | 1.8% | +1400 | 8.4% |
| Kiki Iriafen | Mystics | 1.5% | +600 | 15.8% |
| Natisha Hiedeman | Storm | 1.3% | +950 | 10.8% |
| Paige Bueckers | Wings | 0.5% | +600 | 14.8% |
Edges represent the difference between model probability and implied odds.
For more insights on prop markets and value plays across the league, explore our full list of NBA prop bets for 7/2.
Conclusion: Betting on today's NBA first basket
For Thursday, July 2, 2026, Kiki Iriafen, Paige Bueckers and Dominique Malonga lead our first basket projections, while Azzi Fudd shapes as the strongest value play at +1300. All picks and predictions are derived from Dimers’ WNBA first basket model.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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