WNBA first basket picks and predictions for Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Our WNBA first basket picks and predictions for today—Tuesday, August 18, 2026—are live with the Fever's Kelsey Mitchell projected as the most likely player to score first.

Dimers’ first basket projections derive insights from key first basket stats, including player efficiency, shot frequency, and expected starting lineups, forming part of our daily WNBA player projections.

Mitchell, Kamilla Cardoso and A'ja Wilson lead Tuesday’s most likely first basket scorers, while we also feature tonight's best first basket value picks by comparing real-time odds to model-generated probabilities.

WNBA first basket predictions tonight (August 18, 2026)

• Kelsey Mitchell (Fever): 15.5% probability
• Kamilla Cardoso (Sky): 15.5% probability
• A'ja Wilson (Aces): 14.7% probability
• Allisha Gray (Dream): 14.2% probability
• Dearica Hamby (Sparks): 13.6% probability
• Olivia Nelson-Ododa (Sun): 12.7% probability
• Jackie Young (Aces): 12.2% probability
• Nneka Ogwumike (Sparks): 12.1% probability
• Marina Mabrey (Tempo): 12.0% probability
• Aliyah Boston (Fever): 12.0% probability
• Breanna Stewart (Liberty): 11.7% probability
• Caitlin Clark (Fever): 11.7% probability
• Leila Lacan (Sun): 11.3% probability
• Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty): 11.2% probability
• Isabelle Harrison (Tempo): 11.2% probability
• Angel Reese (Dream): 11.0% probability
• Jonquel Jones (Liberty): 11.0% probability
• Brittney Sykes (Tempo): 10.9% probability
• Rae Burrell (Sparks): 10.7% probability
• Diamond Miller (Sun): 10.5% probability
• Azura Stevens (Sky): 10.4% probability
• Kennedy Burke (Sun): 10.0% probability
• NaLyssa Smith (Aces): 9.8% probability
• Rhyne Howard (Dream): 9.6% probability
• Courtney Vandersloot (Sky): 9.2% probability
• Laura Juskaite (Tempo): 8.9% probability
• Pauline Astier (Liberty): 8.7% probability
• Natasha Cloud (Sky): 8.7% probability
• Naz Hillmon (Dream): 8.6% probability
• Erica Wheeler (Sparks): 8.1% probability
• Chelsea Gray (Aces): 7.6% probability
• Rebecca Allen (Liberty): 7.5% probability
• Kiki Rice (Tempo): 7.1% probability
• Makayla Timpson (Fever): 6.8% probability
• Jordin Canada (Dream): 6.6% probability
• Jacy Sheldon (Sky): 6.2% probability
• Stephanie Talbot (Aces): 5.7% probability
• Ariel Atkins (Sparks): 5.6% probability
• Charlisse Leger-Walker (Sun): 5.5% probability
• Lexie Hull (Fever): 4.0% probability

WNBA first basket picks today (August 18, 2026)

• Natasha Cloud (Sky): 2.5% edge at +1520
• Rae Burrell (Sparks): 2.4% edge at +1100
• Courtney Vandersloot (Sky): 2.3% edge at +1340
• Leila Lacan (Sun): 2.2% edge at +1000
• Kelsey Mitchell (Fever): 2.2% edge at +650
• Naz Hillmon (Dream): 1.9% edge at +1400
• Erica Wheeler (Sparks): 1.8% edge at +1500
• Chelsea Gray (Aces): 1.7% edge at +1600
• Stephanie Talbot (Aces): 1.6% edge at +2300
• Pauline Astier (Liberty): 1.5% edge at +1300
• Diamond Miller (Sun): 1.4% edge at +1000
• Rebecca Allen (Liberty): 1.2% edge at +1500
• Laura Juskaite (Tempo): 0.5% edge at +1100
• Jacy Sheldon (Sky): 0.4% edge at +1600
• Ariel Atkins (Sparks): 0.3% edge at +1800
• Isabelle Harrison (Tempo): 0.0% edge at +800

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 WNBA prop bets for 8/18.

Conclusion: Betting on today's WNBA first basket

For Tuesday, August 18, 2026, Kelsey Mitchell, Kamilla Cardoso and A'ja Wilson lead our first basket projections, while Natasha Cloud shapes as the strongest value play at +1520. All picks and predictions are derived from Dimers’ WNBA first basket model.

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