Fun Plays For Team USA Vs. Team WNBA

Team USA vs. Team WNBA, 8:30 ET

It has been a very good year for WNBA betting. I've gone 12-4 for Outkick articles, and I've cashed a 14:1 parlay on Twitter, plus winning a lot of the plays I've put out there. Now we have an extended break from the league as they are on hiatus for the All-Star Game that takes place tonight, and the Olympics which are upcoming. There are a few different perspectives to think about here with the game from a betting angle, but let's first take a look at the teams then decide how we should play this one.

Team USA got a lot of flack earlier in the season as they announced their roster and one name was noticeably absent from the list: Caitlin Clark. I'll talk more about Clark in a moment, but let's break it down here in terms of a decision. From a business standpoint, it was a really dumb move. Clark being on the team means more exposure, more eyeballs, more revenue, and ultimately, more fans which grows the game of basketball. I'm not saying she is the talent level of a LeBron James or a Michael Jordan, but this would be the equivalent of not putting one of them on the men's team - at least from a business perspective. From a talent level, actually pure talent, Team USA is probably fine without her. Kahleah Copper is a significantly better scorer (not shooter, but scorer), Sabrina Ionescu is arguably the best shooter in the professional level, Kelsey Plum is one of the best scorers in the game, Jewell Loyd is very talented, Jackie Young is turning into a superstar, and Diana Taurasi has been the captain of Team USA. So who are you replacing? Young? Loyd? Maybe you can make an argument, but both of them are probably better at this point in time. The truth is it wouldn't matter if you didn't take one of those two players because it isn't like Clark would hurt the team. The other players on the roster, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, A'ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart, are four of the best players in the WNBA and will be the best players in the Olympics. The biggest question for this game is not about the roster any longer, it is about if they care enough to put forth the effort to blow out the WNBA stars. 

PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 30: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury smile during the game on June 30, 2024 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

As for Team WNBA, Clark is on the team. She was the leading vote-getter for the league (surprise!), and will probably be a starter if the league is smart. I take that back, the league isn't smart, so she will probably be benched. If I am Clark, I probably am going to be aggressive in this one to prove that I should've been picked. If she goes off against a team that essentially said it didn't want her, that will create havoc for the team. I'm going to guess the team and coaching staff have had a conversation along the lines of "Anyone but Caitlin." I'm sure there will be times when Clark-foe Angel Reese will be on the court together. Again, this is important if the league actually WANTS to be relevant. A Clark to Reese assist and high-five will be replayed a million times, and asked about constantly. Outside of Clark there are variety of very deserving players on the court. Both Nneka Ogwumkike and Arike Ogunbowale are talented players, and Jonquel Jones could've made the Olympics. Aliyah Boston was last season's Rookie of the Year, and DeWanna Bonner is a very talented veteran of the league. 

The total in past All-Star games seemed far too high. Now, I think the bookmakers have gone the opposite way. There is no reason to play defense in this game if you're Team USA. Why risk getting injured at all before the Olympics? If you're Team WNBA, you have very little chance of stopping the opposition because all of those women are lethal scorers. I am going to split a unit, since this is an exhibition game and anything can happen, and play Team USA -5.5 (they are just significantly better than Team WNBA, even without anything to play for, you don't want to lose to your peers or look vulnerable going into the Olympics) and the over 193.5. We've seen some Wings games come close to this total already this season, I think we get scoring at will here. 

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