WNBA first basket predictions for Thursday include A'ja Wilson, Alyssa Thomas [8/21/2025]

Our WNBA first basket predictions for Thursday, August 21, 2025, are live—with A'ja Wilson of the Aces the most likely player to score the first basket based on the latest Dimers Pro simulation data.

Thursday's first basket predictions come straight from our WNBA first basket odds and player projections, which highlight not only first basket chances, but also projected points, rebounds, assists and more for every player on today's basketball slate.

Who will score the first basket tonight? [August 21, 2025]

According to our data-driven analysis, the most likely WNBA player to score the first basket in any of today's games is A'ja Wilson, with a probability of 16.6%.

Following Wilson closely are Napheesa Collier at 15.1% and Brittney Griner at 14.2%.

Alyssa Thomas and Emma Meesseman are among those in the top 10, with the full list of first basket projections for Thursday available once you sign up to Dimers Pro.

Already a Dimers Pro member? Head to today’s WNBA player projections and scroll across to the “FB” column to see every player’s probability of scoring the first basket.

Best WNBA first basket picks [8/21/2025]

After simulating the result of today's WNBA slate thousands of times, our independent predictive analytics model has found the best WNBA first basket bet for you to make on Thursday.

Ariel Atkins first basket scorer

• Odds: +1400
• Edge: 3.0%
• Probability: 9.6%
• Game: Sky vs. Liberty (7:00PM ET)

Our model has identified the best WNBA first basket bet for today's WNBA slate in the game between the Sky and Liberty. The bet is on Ariel Atkins (CHI) at odds of +1400 with FanDuel Sportsbook, with an edge of 3.0% according to our analysis.

Although Atkins doesn't feature in our model's top 10 most likely first basket scorers for Thursday's WNBA slate, she does present the best betting opportunity for those searching for an edge on the market.

For more expert WNBA picks and data-backed WNBA predictions, join Dimers Pro now. Pro users get full access to all of today's first basket predictions, plus projected box scores for every player—perfect for building smarter WNBA parlays.

WNBA schedule for today [8/21/2025]

• Sky vs. Liberty (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Mystics vs. Sun (7:00PM ET, Thursday)
• Lynx vs. Dream (7:30PM ET, Thursday)
• Mercury vs. Aces (10:00PM ET, Thursday)

Conclusion

For August 21, 2025, our WNBA first basket predictions showcase standout players such as A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Shakira Austin—all of whom are among the top projected chances to open the scoring in today’s games. But when it comes to +EV betting, it’s Ariel Atkins who emerges as the top pick, offering a calculated 3.0% edge at +1400 odds.

These projections are the result of 10,000 simulations, giving you a reliable basis for smarter prop betting. Always wager with care—help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER if you or someone close to you needs support.

For more insight, check out our WNBA player props and WNBA best bets. Stay in the loop with our up-to-the-minute WNBA betting trends, WNBA news, and current WNBA title odds.

This article was partially generated using automated data and AI tools, with all content reviewed and finalized by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and quality.

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