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Read Article WNBA first basket picks and predictions for Thursday, August 27, 2026
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get first basket predictions today driven by expert analysis of WNBA slate on 8/27.
Our WNBA first basket picks and predictions for today—Thursday, August 27, 2026—are live with the Mystics' Shakira Austin 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.
Austin, Gabby Williams and Breanna Stewart lead Thursday’s most likely first basket scorers, while we also identify tonight's best first basket value picks by comparing real-time odds to model-generated probabilities.
WNBA first basket predictions tonight (August 27, 2026)
- Shakira Austin (Mystics): 15.7% probability
- Gabby Williams (Valkyries): 14.8% probability
- Breanna Stewart (Liberty): 12.1% probability
- Kiki Iriafen (Mystics): 12.1% probability
- Kahleah Copper (Mercury): 12.0% probability
- Kelsey Plum (Mercury): 12.0% probability
- Veronica Burton (Valkyries): 11.6% probability
- Cecilia Zandalasini (Valkyries): 11.1% probability
- Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty): 10.8% probability
- Jonquel Jones (Liberty): 10.6% probability
- Sonia Citron (Mystics): 10.1% probability
- Alyssa Thomas (Mercury): 9.7% probability
- Natasha Mack (Mercury): 9.3% probability
- Pauline Astier (Liberty): 8.9% probability
- Leonie Fiebich (Liberty): 7.6% probability
- Michaela Onyenwere (Mystics): 7.5% probability
- Noemie Brochant (Mercury): 7.0% probability
- Kayla Thornton (Valkyries): 6.7% probability
- Kiah Stokes (Valkyries): 5.8% probability
- Georgia Amoore (Mystics): 4.7% probability
WNBA first basket picks today (August 27, 2026)
- Veronica Burton (Valkyries): 2.5% edge at +1000
- Pauline Astier (Liberty): 1.2% edge at +1200
- Sonia Citron (Mystics): 1.0% edge at +1000
- Noemie Brochant (Mercury): 0.5% edge at +1440
- Gabby Williams (Valkyries): 0.5% edge at +600
- Kahleah Copper (Mercury): 0.3% edge at +750
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 8/27.
Conclusion: Betting on today's WNBA first basket
For Thursday, August 27, 2026, Shakira Austin, Gabby Williams and Breanna Stewart lead our first basket projections, while Veronica Burton shapes as the strongest value play at +1000. 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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