Player First Basket Leaders

Top 50 players by first baskets scored

This leaderboard ranks WNBA players by total first baskets scored across all games in the selected season. First basket bets are a popular WNBA prop market where you predict which player will score the game's opening points. Use this data to identify consistent first scorers - players who frequently get early touches and have the green light to shoot. The FB Rate shows what percentage of games a player scores the first basket when in the starting lineup. The How They Scored It column counts each first basket by method: layup, dunk, jumper, floater, hook, three-pointer or free throw.

Player Team First Baskets Games Started FB Rate How They Scored It
Shakira Austin WSH 12 45 12/45 (26.7%)
Layup: 10 Jumper: 1 Free Throw: 1
Cecilia Zandalasini GS 10 40 10/40 (25.0%)
Jumper: 4 Floater: 1 3-Pointer: 4 Free Throw: 1
Jonquel Jones NY 9 49 9/49 (18.4%)
Layup: 6 Jumper: 2 3-Pointer: 1
Dominique Malonga SEA 9 34 9/34 (26.5%)
Layup: 3 Jumper: 3 Hook: 1 3-Pointer: 1 Free Throw: 1
A'ja Wilson LV 8 47 8/47 (17.0%)
Jumper: 7 3-Pointer: 1
Gabby Williams GS 8 45 8/45 (17.8%)
Layup: 3 Jumper: 3 3-Pointer: 2
Kamilla Cardoso CHI 8 43 8/43 (18.6%)
Layup: 7 Free Throw: 1
Paige Bueckers DAL 8 45 8/45 (17.8%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 3 Floater: 1 3-Pointer: 3
Nneka Ogwumike LA 8 43 8/43 (18.6%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 4 Floater: 2 3-Pointer: 1
Kelsey Mitchell IND 7 47 7/47 (14.9%)
Layup: 2 Jumper: 2 3-Pointer: 2 Free Throw: 1
Aliyah Boston IND 7 43 7/43 (16.3%)
Layup: 5 Floater: 1 Hook: 1
Rhyne Howard ATL 7 48 7/48 (14.6%)
Layup: 3 Jumper: 2 3-Pointer: 2
Jordin Canada ATL 6 48 6/48 (12.5%)
Layup: 2 Floater: 2 3-Pointer: 2
Sabrina Ionescu NY 6 36 6/36 (16.7%)
Layup: 4 3-Pointer: 2
Natasha Howard MIN 6 46 6/46 (13.0%)
Layup: 3 Hook: 2 Free Throw: 1
Chelsea Gray LV 6 50 6/50 (12.0%)
Jumper: 2 3-Pointer: 4
Jackie Young LV 6 50 6/50 (12.0%)
Layup: 3 Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 1 Free Throw: 1
Marina Mabrey TOR 6 32 6/32 (18.8%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 3 Free Throw: 1
Alyssa Thomas PHX 6 42 6/42 (14.3%)
Layup: 6
Dearica Hamby LA 5 42 5/42 (11.9%)
Layup: 4 Floater: 1
Courtney Williams MIN 5 45 5/45 (11.1%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 2 3-Pointer: 2
Emily Engstler POR 5 44 5/44 (11.4%)
Layup: 2 Jumper: 2 3-Pointer: 1
Pauline Astier NY 5 45 5/45 (11.1%)
Layup: 4 3-Pointer: 1
Allisha Gray ATL 5 47 5/47 (10.6%)
Layup: 2 Jumper: 2 3-Pointer: 1
Laura Juskaite TOR 5 36 5/36 (13.9%)
Layup: 4 3-Pointer: 1
Breanna Stewart NY 4 48 4/48 (8.3%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Awak Kuier DAL 4 29 4/29 (13.8%)
Layup: 1 Hook: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Azura Stevens CHI 4 31 4/31 (12.9%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 1 Free Throw: 1
Caitlin Clark IND 4 43 4/43 (9.3%)
3-Pointer: 4
Leila Lacan CON 4 30 4/30 (13.3%)
Layup: 2 Jumper: 1 Floater: 1
Stephanie Talbot LV 4 48 4/48 (8.3%)
Layup: 2 Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 1
Rae Burrell LA 4 35 4/35 (11.4%)
Layup: 4
Maria Conde TOR 4 20 4/20 (20.0%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Flau'jae Johnson SEA 4 42 4/42 (9.5%)
Layup: 1 3-Pointer: 2 Free Throw: 1
Makayla Timpson IND 3 17 3/17 (17.6%)
Layup: 2 Floater: 1
Veronica Burton GS 3 50 3/50 (6.0%)
Layup: 1 Floater: 1 3-Pointer: 1
Kiki Iriafen WSH 3 43 3/43 (7.0%)
Layup: 2 Free Throw: 1
Lexie Hull IND 3 44 3/44 (6.8%)
Layup: 2 3-Pointer: 1
Arike Ogunbowale DAL 3 47 3/47 (6.4%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 1
Michaela Onyenwere WSH 3 42 3/42 (7.1%)
Layup: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Alanna Smith DAL 3 18 3/18 (16.7%)
Layup: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Brittney Griner CON 3 18 3/18 (16.7%)
Layup: 1 Jumper: 2
Olivia Nelson-Ododa CON 3 23 3/23 (13.0%)
Layup: 2 Free Throw: 1
Kayla Thornton GS 3 50 3/50 (6.0%)
Layup: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Megan DiLeo POR 3 32 3/32 (9.4%)
3-Pointer: 3
NaLyssa Smith LV 3 39 3/39 (7.7%)
Layup: 2 Jumper: 1
Azzi Fudd DAL 3 24 3/24 (12.5%)
Jumper: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Diamond Miller CON 3 43 3/43 (7.0%)
Jumper: 1 Floater: 1 3-Pointer: 1
Megan Gustafson POR 3 — —
Layup: 1 3-Pointer: 2
Jessica Shepard DAL 3 45 3/45 (6.7%)
Layup: 3
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Team First Basket Stats

Win rate for scoring first

Team-level statistics showing how often each WNBA team wins the opening tip-off and scores the first point or first field goal. Tip % shows how often a team wins the opening jump ball - a key factor since the team with first possession has the first chance to score. First Point % includes free throws (from technical fouls or flagrants), while First FG % only counts made field goals. Compare tip % and first basket percentages to identify teams that win the tip but fail to convert, or teams that score first despite losing the tip. Teams with dominant centers who consistently win tip-offs have a natural advantage in first basket markets.

Team Games Tip % First Point Wins First Point % First FG Wins First FG %
NY 50 60.4% 29 58.0% 30 60.0%
LV 51 38.0% 28 54.9% 28 54.9%
IND 47 66.7% 28 59.6% 29 61.7%
GS 50 48.0% 27 54.0% 26 52.0%
DAL 47 44.4% 26 55.3% 28 59.6%
SEA 44 47.6% 25 56.8% 22 50.0%
WSH 46 57.8% 24 52.2% 22 47.8%
TOR 44 60.5% 24 54.5% 24 54.5%
CHI 44 61.4% 22 50.0% 22 50.0%
ATL 49 52.2% 22 44.9% 22 44.9%
CON 44 72.1% 21 47.7% 20 45.5%
LA 44 32.6% 19 43.2% 19 43.2%
POR 44 40.5% 18 40.9% 21 47.7%
MIN 46 18.6% 17 37.0% 18 39.1%
PHX 44 48.8% 17 38.6% 16 36.4%
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How First Baskets Are Scored

347 games

Each WNBA game's opening score, split by method. First Point counts free throws. First FG skips them and counts the first made field goal, which is how some sportsbooks settle first basket bets. A layup counts finger rolls, tip-ins and putbacks. A jumper counts pull-ups, fadeaways and step-backs inside the arc.

Method First Point First FG
Layup 43.2% (150)
45.5% (158)
Dunk 0.0% (0)
0.0% (0)
Jumper 17.9% (62)
18.4% (64)
Floater 4.3% (15)
4.9% (17)
Hook 1.7% (6)
2.0% (7)
3-Pointer 28.0% (97)
29.1% (101)
Free Throw 4.9% (17)
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Team First Point Method

How each team scores its own first point of the game, as a share of its games. The top method is highlighted.

Team Games LayupJumperFloaterHook3-PointerFree Throw
ATL 49 46.9% 10.2% 8.2% 0.0% 24.5% 10.2%
CHI 44 52.3% 15.9% 4.5% 0.0% 11.4% 15.9%
CON 44 50.0% 36.4% 4.5% 0.0% 2.3% 6.8%
DAL 47 38.3% 19.1% 2.1% 2.1% 36.2% 2.1%
GS 50 18.0% 20.0% 8.0% 0.0% 38.0% 16.0%
IND 47 42.6% 12.8% 6.4% 6.4% 29.8% 2.1%
LA 44 45.5% 18.2% 11.4% 2.3% 20.5% 2.3%
LV 51 21.6% 43.1% 0.0% 2.0% 27.5% 5.9%
MIN 46 39.1% 15.2% 6.5% 4.3% 23.9% 10.9%
NY 50 44.0% 14.0% 4.0% 0.0% 32.0% 6.0%
PHX 44 50.0% 18.2% 4.5% 2.3% 13.6% 11.4%
POR 44 40.9% 11.4% 2.3% 0.0% 38.6% 6.8%
SEA 44 25.0% 22.7% 4.5% 2.3% 34.1% 11.4%
TOR 44 31.8% 20.5% 2.3% 0.0% 36.4% 9.1%
WSH 46 60.9% 6.5% 0.0% 0.0% 19.6% 13.0%
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Recent Form (Last 10 Games)

First basket performance in recent games

Track each team's recent first basket performance over their last 10 games. Recent form often matters more than season-long averages - teams on hot streaks with confident opening plays tend to continue scoring first. Teams labeled HOT (60%+ first point rate) are worth considering, while COLD teams (30% or below) may be worth fading. The top scorers shown for each team indicate which players have been getting the first bucket recently, helping you identify the best first basket prop targets for upcoming games.

MIN HOT
Games
10
1st Point
70.0%
1st FG
70.0%
Top Scorers: Courtney Williams (4) Natasha Howard (2) Napheesa Collier (1)
GS HOT
Games
10
1st Point
70.0%
1st FG
70.0%
Top Scorers: Kayla Thornton (3) Veronica Burton (3) Gabby Williams (2)
TOR HOT
Games
10
1st Point
70.0%
1st FG
70.0%
Top Scorers: Laura Juskaite (3) Temi Fagbenle (2) Isabelle Harrison (2)
IND HOT
Games
10
1st Point
60.0%
1st FG
60.0%
Top Scorers: Caitlin Clark (5) Makayla Timpson (3) Kelsey Mitchell (2)
NY HOT
Games
10
1st Point
60.0%
1st FG
60.0%
Top Scorers: Pauline Astier (4) Jonquel Jones (4) Breanna Stewart (2)
DAL HOT
Games
10
1st Point
60.0%
1st FG
70.0%
Top Scorers: Paige Bueckers (5) Awak Kuier (2) Arike Ogunbowale (2)
POR AVG
Games
10
1st Point
50.0%
1st FG
50.0%
Top Scorers: Emily Engstler (4) Megan DiLeo (2) Bridget Carleton (2)
LV AVG
Games
10
1st Point
50.0%
1st FG
50.0%
Top Scorers: A'ja Wilson (4) Chelsea Gray (3) Stephanie Talbot (2)
ATL AVG
Games
10
1st Point
40.0%
1st FG
40.0%
Top Scorers: Jordin Canada (3) Angel Reese (3) Rhyne Howard (2)
CHI AVG
Games
10
1st Point
40.0%
1st FG
40.0%
Top Scorers: Sydney Taylor (4) Natasha Cloud (3) Gabriela Jaquez (1)
CON AVG
Games
10
1st Point
40.0%
1st FG
40.0%
Top Scorers: Diamond Miller (4) Charlisse Leger-Walker (2) Kennedy Burke (2)
PHX AVG
Games
10
1st Point
40.0%
1st FG
40.0%
Top Scorers: Alyssa Thomas (5) Noemie Brochant (2) Natasha Mack (1)
SEA AVG
Games
10
1st Point
40.0%
1st FG
30.0%
Top Scorers: Dominique Malonga (4) Flau'jae Johnson (2) Jade Melbourne (2)
LA COLD
Games
10
1st Point
30.0%
1st FG
30.0%
Top Scorers: Dearica Hamby (4) Rae Burrell (2) Erica Wheeler (2)
WSH COLD
Games
10
1st Point
30.0%
1st FG
30.0%
Top Scorers: Shakira Austin (5) Sonia Citron (2) Michaela Onyenwere (2)

Sportsbook First Basket Rules

Different sportsbooks have different rules for what counts as the "first basket." Some books count free throws, while others only count field goals. This affects your betting strategy - if you're betting on a player who often scores first via free throws, make sure your book counts them! See which sportsbooks count free throws as first basket below.

Free Throws COUNT as First Basket

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Only Field Goals Count (No Free Throws)

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