WNBA Playoffs Betting Guide 2022: Favorites, odds, picks, best bets
The WNBA playoffs begin Wednesday night after an exciting regular season that saw the Aces and defending WNBA champion Sky finish with league-best records. Both teams are among the betting favorites to win the WNBA title, but they’re not the only teams with intriguing postseason odds.
It won’t be easy for Aces and Sky to reach the finals as Storm, Mystics, Sun, Liberty and Wings will all have a say in what happens in the following weeks. Below we’ll break down the odds for each playoff team and list some of our best bets on what should be a great WNBA postseason.
WNBA Championship Odds 2022
All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
| team | opportunities |
| aces | +175 |
| heaven | +230 |
| Sun | +350 |
| Storm | +550 |
| mystic | +1100 |
| wing | +5000 |
| freedom | +7000 |
| mercury | +15000 |
Who is the favorite to win the 2022 WNBA championship?
Aces (+175). The Aces clinched the No. 1 spot with an eight-point win over the Storm on Sunday. Las Vegas has been a consistent betting favorite to win the WNBA title this season under freshman head coach Becky Hammon.
Hammon lets the Aces play fast (first in pace) and fire from three-point range (36.1 percent) for an impeccable clip, which helped them lead the league in scoring (90.4 points per game). Las Vegas will start this playoff run without All-Star Forward Dearica Hamby, who will be out for 2-4 weeks with a bruised right knee. Hamby played a key role in the Aces’ starting lineup this season, having twice finished sixth woman of the year (2019, ’20).
Despite being without Hamby, the Aces remain a threat to winning the title. A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young can all score 80-100 together any night. All four players are averaging at least 13 points per game and shooting over 34 percent from three-point range.
The Aces meet the Mercury in the first round and then could potentially see either the Storm or Mystics, both of which are tough semi-final draws.
You should also keep an eye on the defending champion heaven (+230) who have an easier route to the final. James Wade’s crew will take on the Liberty in the first round, where they are seven-point favorites in Game 1. Chicago was one of the best offensive teams in the league (86.3 ppg/107.7 off rtg) and excelled on defense (81.3 ppg allowed/101.5 def rtg). As the sky gets past the Liberty, it sets up a potential replay of last season’s semifinals against the sun.
Betting Advice: Chicago makes the most sense when betting on a favorite as its odds only decrease as it advances in the playoffs. The sky should be able to get past the Liberty and could end up facing the wings if they interfere with the sun. This season Chicago is 3-1 against New York, 3-0 against Connecticut and 2-1 against Dallas.
Who Are Sleepers To Win The 2022 WNBA Championship?
Storm (+550). When we first looked at the WNBA Finals odds before the All-Star break, the Storm was +400 to win the title. Your chances have shifted slightly in the postseason, but you can’t ignore this veteran-led roster that knows what it takes to win. Seattle has the toughest first-round matchup, taking on another veteran-led team in the Mystics.
The Storm went 2-1 against the Mystics in the regular season with an average winning margin of 9.5 points per game. Seattle will be leaning on Breanna Stewart, who is a candidate for their second MVP. Stewart led the team in points (21.8 ppg) and rebounds (7.6 rpg). In addition to Stewart, opponents will have to watch out for Jewell Loyd, Tina Charles, Ezi Mabegor, Sue Bird and Gabby Williams.
Mystic (+1100). If the Mystics make it through their side of the bracket, you’ve got to like their chances of winning the title. The Mystics have been a popular pick for the title since the regular season began in May. Head coach Mike Thibault has a stellar roster of veterans that has an influx of youth, led by rookie center Shakira Austin.
Washington finished the regular season as the best defensive team in the league (97.8 Def Rtg) and conceded just 75.9 points per game, which will help them in their first-round series against the Storm. The Mystics have a good core of vets led by Elena Delle-Donne, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins and Alysha Clark. Delle-Donne led the team in scoring (17.2), while Cloud was the leader in assists (7.0).
Betting Advice: The Mystics are the best bet for a sleeper in the WNBA playoffs. If Washington defeated Seattle, they would probably be the longshot among the potential teams remaining in the semifinals (Chicago, Las Vegas and Connecticut). Their odds increase to +500 or +600 if they get past the second round, which isn’t a terrible value. However, if you can get 11/1 odds on a team that’s playoff-proven and has previously won a WNBA final, take your chance with the Mystics.