As the regular season concluded on Thursday night, the focus shifted towards the WNBA Finals. The playoff field is now set, with eight out of the league’s 12 teams gearing up for a best-of-three series in the opening round.
This will be followed by a best-of-five series for the semifinals, leading to the ultimate showdown. The final two teams remain and will play for the WNBA title.
It’s worth noting that WNBA Championship odds are bound to change as the postseason unfolds.
After being defeated by the Aces in the previous year’s WNBA Finals, the Liberty bounced back with a strong performance this year.
They started the season hot, winning 21 out of their first 25 games. They ended the season with the league’s best record and secured the No. 1 seed.
This positions them for a Round 1 matchup against the Atlanta Dream, considered the biggest long shot. This also sets up a potential second-round rematch with the Aces, with a home-court advantage favoring the Liberty.
This advantage could be crucial, especially if the Liberty’s star trio performs at their best following last year’s title loss.
The Liberty are performing at their best, with Jonquel Jones back in action and Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart excelling at MVP levels. The added benefit from another season of continuity with the roster and growing confidence.
In 20 out of 27 seasons, the team holding the No. 1 seed has emerged victorious in the WNBA Finals.
The Aces didn’t have the same dominant season as last year, but they still managed to secure the No. 4 seed. This gives them home-court advantage in the first round against the Seattle Storm.
Despite not always playing their best or having the best record, they remained a betting favorite early in the year.
A’ja Wilson, arguably the best player in the WNBA, receives most of this credit.
With Wilson leading the way, it was easy to believe that the Aces would eventually find their stride and dominate opponents like they did the previous year.
However, a No. 4 seed has never won the championship, and the Aces have struggled on the defensive end at the start of the season.
Minnesota leads the WNBA in defensive rating and 3-point percentage. The Lynx won the Commissioner’s Cup final against New York on June 25 but faced challenges when Collier was injured.
From June 27 to July 17, Minnesota’s record was 4-5. However, Collier’s performance improved during the Paris Games, and since the Olympic break, the Lynx have achieved a record of 13-2.
It’s worth noting that two of these losses occurred when Minnesota rested Collier and McBride. They rested both in a game against Los Angeles, which was ultimately inconsequential. Overall, the Lynx have demonstrated remarkable consistency and resilience throughout the season.
They’ll host the Phoenix Mercury in the first round. Phoenix won a tight one at home against Minnesota earlier in the year, but the Lynx won the season series 3-1.
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Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun have boasted one of the best defenses in the league this season, allowing an average of 72.9 points per game before the break.
However, their offensive performance hasn’t been as impressive, with the team scoring 79.8 points per game. The acquisition of Marina Mabrey appeared to have a minimal impact, as the team’s average increased to 80.6 points per game.
In the upcoming first-round matchup, the Sun will face the Indiana Fever. The Fever have been one of the hottest teams since the break, scoring an impressive 90.9 points per game, the highest in the league.
However, their defense has been less stellar, allowing 88.4 points per game.
Connecticut won the season series 3-1, but the Fever won the last matchup 84-81 on Aug. 28. The Sun are favored to win the series.
The Fever, with unanimous Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark leading the way, may have the best opportunity to pull an upset.
Indiana has been on a roll since its tough 1-8 start to the season. The team underwent significant changes on the offensive end, but their defense suffered.
Before the break, they allowed an average of 87.3 points per game, which increased to 88.4 points per game after the break.
Although they were able to outscore weaker opponents, they struggled against Connecticut, Las Vegas, and Minnesota, resulting in a 1-4 record.
However, they haven’t had much success against DeWanna Bonner, Marina Mabrey, and the defensively strong Sun.
Connecticut won three of the four regular-season matchups against Indiana, but the Fever did secure a victory in their last meeting in late August.
Tony is a pro sports journalist who dedicates most of his free time to watching the latest matches and games on TV. Tony enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and basketball when he's not participating in sports-related activities or seeing his friends.
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