WNBA Platinum Hi-Roller Play - Monday
- Handicapper
- Jim Feist
- League
- WNBA
- Competition
- Golden State Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream
- Release Date
- 07/07/2025 02:15 AM
- Event Date
- 07/07/2025 07:30 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Golden State Valkyries +6.5 (-110)
(BetMGM)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- Fresh off one of the most memorable first seasons in franchise history, the Golden State Valkyries are not quite sure how to explain what’s made them effective so far. Led by first-year coach Natalie Nakase, Golden State is a defensive juggernaut (No. 3 defensive rating, 97.8 and stingiest points per game in the WNBA with 77.5) that is at its best when setting the tone on that end of the floor, the reason they are 4-2 when winning by at least eight points and 5-6 in games decided by fewer than four. In that vein, Tiffany Hayes scored 23 points in their most recent game to continue proving why she’s one of the best veteran scorers off the bench in the league.
The Atlanta Dream are one of the tougher teams in the East at 11-7 and even tougher at home with a 7-3 record. They lead the WNBA in defensive rebounds (27.9 per game), and Brionna Jones is the best interior defender on a team with excellent depth up front. The Dream are much more potent on offense where they rank No. 4 in points per possession (106.1), led by their trio of Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Jones, who are coming off great seasons themselves and all average double-digits. Atlanta also defends, giving up 78.6 points per game and opponents shooting under 44 percent over the last 10 games.
This will be the first time the two sides have met in 2025 so there’s a little mystery to what happens on the court. We’ll find out in real time whether Golden State’s methodical, grind-it-out defense can withstand Atlanta’s well-rounded, aggressive frontcourt and home-court advantage, as it’s the classic contrast of styles. We can probably expect the Valkyries to run a deliberate pace, play consistently from stop to stop, and rely on Hayes and Kayla Thornton to come through down the stretch while the Dream crash the boards, attack the rim and feed the go-to scorers early in the shot clock.
I'm going to take the points with Golden State here on Monday and won't be surprised by a straight-up win by the Valkyries.
Jim's Play: 621. GS Valkyries
