Dream vs. Mystics Prediction & Player Props Today: WNBA Odds and Expert Picks

Can the Atlanta Dream cover the spread as road favorites over the Washington Mystics to open the WNBA season?

Rob Paul

Last updated: May 16, 2025 4:28 PM EDT • 4 min read

Pictured: Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard against the Indiana Fever. Photo by Dale Zanine / Imagn.

The Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics begin the WNBA season tonight from CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C., at 7:30 p.m. ET (ION). Our Dream vs. Mystics prediction anticipates the visitors covering as 5.5-point betting favorites, despite not being a WNBA championship odds contender right now.

Read to the bottom for our plus-money star player prop!

💰 Dream vs. Mystics expert picks for WNBA

🔎 Our NEW player props odds tool can help you find the best WNBA odds across legal sportsbooks in your area!

✅ Against the spread pick: Dream -5.5 (-108 via BetRivers) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Dream (-235 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Over 157.5 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

🏀 Dream vs. Mystics prediction & best bet

🎯 Score prediction: Dream 82, Mystics 76

After two straight losing seasons under Eric Thibault, the Mystics have a new bench boss in Sydney Johnson, and the former Chicago Sky head coach has her work cut out for her off the hop. While the Mystics are at home, they're taking on a Dream team that should be much better this season.

Injuries impacted former No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard last season as Atlanta stumbled to a 15-25 record with an offense that never looked quite right. That should change with Karl Smesko taking over as head coach. He's expected to bring a fast-paced, 3-point-heavy offense to the court this year, which should help Howard return to All-Star form.

Smesko went 611-112 as Florida Gulf Coast's women's basketball coach, and now he gets to take over a team with Howard, Brittney Griner, and Allisha Gray. This offense should light up a Washington squad that ranked in the back half of the league in points allowed per game (82.3) and defensive rating (103.4) last season.

Washington is also in rebuild mode with few proven players to lean on, and to make matters worse, former No. 6 pick Aaliyah Edwards is out with a back injury. That puts a ton of pressure on rookie Kiki Iriafen to be a difference maker in her WNBA debut.

These are two teams trending in completely different directions, and I think the Dream are set to shock people this season.

✅ Best bet: Dream -5.5 (-108 via BetRivers)

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👀 Star prop to watch: Rhyne Howard Over 3.5 assists

Dream vs. Mystics Prediction: WNBA Odds & Expert Picks — Pictured: Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard against the Indiana Fever. Photo by Dale Zanine via Imagn Images.

Entering her fourth season after being taken No. 1 out of Kentucky, Howard has shown flashes of brilliance throughout her career, taking home WNBA Rookie of the Year and twice earning All-Star nods. While it was a less efficient year for her last season as she dealt with injuries, she should be rejuvenated in Smesko's offense.

Look for Howard to take on an even larger ball-handling role against the Mystics with Jordin Canada out with a knee injury. Howard was second on the team last season in assists (3.1) behind Canada (5.8).

✅ Best odds: +120 via BetMGM (bet $10 to win $12 profit)

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📈 Dream vs. Mystics odds

Live updated odds from our best sports betting sites.

🪧 Dream vs. Mystics opening odds

Opening odds via BetMGM.

Spread: Dream -5.5 (-115) | Mystics +5.5 (-105)
Moneyline: Dream -250 | Mystics +200
Over/Under: Over 156.5 (-115) | Under 156.5 (-110)

🚑 Dream vs. Mystics injury report

📈 Dream vs. Mystics betting insights

Here are some betting insights in the hours before tipoff at BetMGM:

There's overwhelming support for the Dream to cover -6.5, as they're getting 81% of the handle and 61% of the bets
Consequently, the spread has moved a fair bit since opening at -3.5
The total has been shifting too while going from 153.5 to 156.5, with the Over generating 71% of the bets

📡 How to watch Dream vs. Mystics live

📅 Friday, May 16
🕗 7:30 p.m. ET
📍 CareFirst Arena (Washington, D.C.)
📺 ION | 🛜 WNBA League Pass

💵 Best WNBA betting sites

Looking to bet on the WNBA? Here are our best sportsbooks as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best sportsbook promos available for the WNBA.

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Written By:
Rob Paul

Rob is a Publishing Editor at Sportsbook Review. He’s been with the team since early 2024, with this being his first full-time role in the sports betting industry. Before joining SportsbookReview.com, he contributed to various sports outlets, including FanSided and Pro Football Network. During that period, he spent five years working full-time as a local community journalist, after attending Durham College for journalism and Wilfrid Laurier University for history. He previously hosted an NFL draft and college football-focused podcast where he had the opportunity to interact with future NFL players such as Maxx Crosby and Quinn Meinerz. Rob has spent multiple years working as a freelance podcast producer for numerous sports-related podcasts while making guest appearances on several college football shows. He’s also made guest appearances on SportsTalk Mississippi on several occasions to talk all things NFL draft. Rob values the way sports betting acts as a catalyst for telling stories and growing interest in certain sports, particularly FCS football, WNBA, and mid-major college basketball. He’s always been drawn to the more obscure teams and conferences in major college sports, but most of all, Rob loves using stats to find the best player props to back.