WNBA Betting Predictions for the 2018 Season

WNBA Betting Predictions for the 2018 Season

The twelve teams in the Women’s NBA started their regular season this past weekend, and as we move into the summer, the action that we see in this league will heat up. The Los Angeles Sparks won it all in 2016 and have posted consecutive 26-8 regular season records. They have two former league MVPs in Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker, but can they roll to a third title? Let’s look at some WNBA betting predictions you can use when wagering on women’s pro hoops.

WNBA Betting Predictions for the 2018 Season

Minnesota will repeat as league champions.

The Lynx finished 27-7 last year and have four titles in the last seven years. Winning this year would give them five WNBA titles — a level that no other franchise has reached. The Lynx bring back all of their starters, including Sylvia Fowles, the MVP from last season, and Maya Moore, the MVP from 2014. The Lynx did some reworking of their bench to add some depth.

The Sparks will face the Lynx in the league finals.

In addition to Ogwumike and Parker, there are two other intriguing players on the Sparks’ roster — Odyssey Sims, a shooting guard in her fifth season, and Chelsea Gray, a point guard in her fourth year. If those two guards can keep the offense revving, then the Sparks should have no problem advancing to the finals.

Chiney Ogwumike will win Comeback of the Year.

Ogwumike plays for the Connecticut Sun and was the first player drafted overall in 2014. She missed the whole 2017 season with an Achilles injury, which should give her the hunger to come back and have a monster season. The Sun started 1-5 last year but then went 20-8 down the stretch to make the playoffs after four years out of the postseason. Forward Jonquel Jones carried the team on her back, but with Ogwumike back, she shouldn’t have to — which makes this team even scarier.

Expect New York to drop in the standings.

The Liberty got farmed out to Westchester County after MSG tried to sell the team outright. Katie Smith comes to the Liberty as a new head coach, but the roster should look much the same, led by Tina Charles, the 2012 league MVP. The Liberty have won at least 21 games for three consecutive seasons, but they have only won one postseason series during that run. With the move and the coaching change, I expect a drop-off in wins this year.

Will age be served in Phoenix?

Diana Taurasi, now 35, averaged 17.9 points last season, and the Mercury also have last year’s scoring champ in Brittany Griner (21.9 points per year). DeWanna Bonner returns at forward after taking a year off. This team won the WNBA title four years ago — can these veterans put things back together and make a run this year? I’d be more optimistic if there were some talented youth to charge this group up.

Atlanta will return to the postseason.

Last year, the Dream had three All-Stars in Elizabeth Williams, Layshia Clarendon and tiffany Hayes — and they missed the postseason. Exit coach Michael Cooper and enter coach Nikki Colen, and add All-Star forward Angel McCoughtry, who took off 2017 to rest, and the Dream instantly enter the playoff contribution.

Dallas will play defense — or miss the playoffs again.

No team has had a worse scoring defense than the Wings in each of the past two seasons. Liz Cambage, a 6-8 center, returns to the WNBA after five years playing down under. She was the second overall pick in 2011, giving Dallas immediate credibility inside. Point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith could be the best point guard in the league. But can the Wings take care of things on the back end?

Vegas, baby!

We’re not talking about the NHL’s Golden Knights — we’re talking about the new Las Vegas Aces, who are the relocated San Antonio Stars, who have Bill Laimbeer as their new head coach and GM, who left the Liberty after five years. The Aces used the top pick in the draft to select A’ja Wilson, who will join last year’s top pick, Kelsey Plum, in leading this team in the desert