How to Bet on the 2022 WNBA Championship
The WNBA is in its 26th season but has only seen rapid growth over the past five years. It coincides with the growth of women’s basketball at the college level, which is becoming more televised nationally, and stars are becoming more recognizable as they move on to the next level. Check the WNBA Odds below.
Sportsbooks are not all listing WNBA odds yet, but as more states legalize sports and basketball betting, expect that to change.
Some will offer odds on specific games throughout the season, but they usually aren’t readily available until the day of, despite teams having days off leading up to them. They are still working on closing the gender equality gap in sports betting.
How to Bet On WNBA Championship
The easiest way to find what you’re looking for is to open a web search engine and search for “WNBA championship futures.”
This is the easiest way to pull up sportsbooks that offer the WNBA championship odds if one of your favorite sportsbooks does not offer WNBA futures.
Typically there is an odds grid that will list every team with their odds in descending order from favorites to the least likely to win the championship.
Reading the WNBA Odds
We’ll use $100 as an example, but only bet what you are comfortable losing and can still live without. The odds are typically listed in how much one stands to profit based on a $100 bet.
Betting on the Las Vegas Aces at +160 would net a bettor a $160 profit, or $260 total payout, should the Aces win the title.
Similarly, a $100 bet on the New York Liberty +5000 would profit $5,000 for a total payout of $5,100. WNBA picks here are different in that the team has to win the championship to cash in, and there are no alternate forms like there are against the spread or over/unders for a regular game.
The Defending Champions
The Chicago Sky (19-6) are the defending champions and have the best record in the league. They have the second-best odds at +220, according to Vegas Insider.
The Sky had a decent amount of turnover but kept the core of:
- Candace Parker
- Kahleah Copper
- Courtney Vandersloot
- Allie Quigley
They added Emma Meesseman, a former WNBA Finals MVP and Euroleague MVP, after losing their center, and she’s been terrific.
Chicago has six players averaging double figures and a seventh at 8.9 per game. That balance is tough to contend with defensively because it is relentless.
Las Vegas Aces Western Conferences Leaders
It’s been a streaky season for the Las Vegas Aces (18-7), but they’ve held it together. First-year coach Becky Hammond had her squad off to a great start, starting 13-2 before going 2-5 to get to the All-Star break.
They’ve rebounded, though, winning their first three games after the break and still lead the Western Conference.
They are the highest scoring team in the league, averaging 91.3 points per game, with a big three of:
- Kelsey Plum
- A’ja Wilson
- Jackie Young
Leading the way.
It’s a swan song for a WNBA legend in Sue Bird. The talented guard and the Seattle Storm (17-8, +425) – champions two seasons removed – have as complete a team there is.
Breanna Stewart is a threat from anywhere, averaging 21.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Alongside Jewel Lloyd and Tina Charles, the Storm are a threat. They also are the second-best defensive team.
The Challengers
The Connecticut Sun (16-9) have the same odds as the Storm but lack the deep postseason experience. They are very good, ranking third both offensively and defensively.
The Sun are a tough matchup because they are forward-heavy, led by Jonquel and Brionna Jones. They have five who score in double figures.
Delle Donne’s Welcome Sight
The Washington Mystics (16-11) are +1000 and may be one of the best challengers in terms of odds. A healthy Elena Delle Donne is always a welcome sight.
The 6-foot-5 forward is averaging 17.0 points per game while shooting 41.7% from the 3-point range. Her team is also the best defensive team in the league and can lull teams to sleep with a slower pace.
But that tempo battle is something that can get elite teams out of rhythm.
Two Longshots
The Phoenix Mercury (11-16) represented the West in last year’s WNBA Finals. They’ve had an emotional season with star center Brittney Griner facing trial in Russia.
It’s likely taken a toll off the court more than her presence on it – which is more noticeable to outsiders – has.
Griner is a force patrolling the paint on either end of the court, and corrals rebounds with ease. The Mercury have the fourth-best offense with great guards in Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi, but they’re missing a lockdown interior threat.
If Griner was to be freed and was healthy enough to play, the Mercury at +6000 are in play. The aforementioned Liberty (9-15) have lost five of their last six games but had an incredible June, which showed their potential. They were 7-4.
Sabrina’s Ionescu Skills
They also have Sabrina Ionescu, one of the most talented and versatile players in the league. She became the first player in league history to score 30 points in a triple-double. But she and Natasha Howard are going to need some help if they’re going to make a run at the playoffs.
Winning Percentage
This season is the first with a new format. The WNBA is taking the top eight (of 12) teams based on winning percentage and then seeding them by the record.
The first round is four matchups, with the winners advancing in a best-of-three format. The No. 1 seed will play the No. 8 and the No. 4, the No. 5 seed, on one side of the bracket while the No. 2 and No. 7 meet, as do the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds.
The two winners on each side will meet in a best of five series in the semifinals before a best of five series to crown the WNBA champion.
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