Overall, the WNBA has shown some of the best competitive balance in professional sports. Four different champions in the last four years are proof of such parity. Gamblers are expecting that trend to continue for 2020. Las Vegas has opened as the WNBA basketball betting favorite to win the championship for this year. Due to COVID-19, the WNBA schedule will be reduced from 36 to 22 games. IMG Academy will host all games that will be quarantined without fans. July 24 will mark the start of the new WNBA season.
2020 WNBA Season Betting Information
| Opening Day: | July 24, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Location: | IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida |
| TV Network Coverage: | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV, CBSSN |
| Defending Champion: | Washington Mystics |
Odds to Win the 2020 WNBA Championship
| TEAM | Odds |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas Aces | +325 |
| Washington Mystics | +360 |
| Los Angels Sparks | +450 |
| Connecticut Sun | +450 |
| Seattle Storm | +500 |
| Phoenix Mercury | +700 |
| Chicago Sky | +2000 |
| Minnesota Lynx | +3500 |
| New York Liberty | +4000 |
| Indiana Fever | +6000 |
| Dallas Wings | +10000 |
| Atlanta Dream | +10000 |
2020 WNBA Championship Odds Analysis and Overview
Defending WNBA champion Washington is an obvious choice on the futures board. By contrast, Las Vegas has shown rapid improvement in just two seasons. There is also plenty of local money that has influenced the Aces status as WNBA chalk. Los Angeles is one of the best-known WNBA teams in all of the offshore betting. Consider LA has three WNBA titles since its 1997 founding as charter members. Connecticut hasn’t won a title but has been a top contender for three straight years. Seattle was the 2018 champion and has three titles since 2004. Therefore, such teams draw more public money.
Las Vegas Aces
Since arriving from San Antonio in 2018 the Aces have rapidly emerged as one of the most improved teams. Head coach Bill Laimbeer is remembered as the badest of the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons. He was a key player in Detroit’s 1989 and 1990 NBA championship teams. Most important of all Laimbeer has won three WNBA basketball Betting championships as a coach. He has been named WNBA Coach of the Year two times.
Last year the Aces went 21-13. Las Vegas lost in the WNBA semifinals to eventual champion Washington. A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 16.5 points per game in 2019.
Washington Mystics
The first time defending champion Washington figures to be in the hunt for a repeat. Head coach Mike Thibault has been a key factor in Mystics’ success. Since taking over in 2013 Thibault has put Washington in the WNBA Finals two years in a row.
Forward Elena Delle Donne was a first-round pick in 2013. She is a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Award winner. And a six-time All-Star. Last year she led the Mystics with 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles has won the championship as recently as 2017. On the whole, the Sparks are the most successful WNBA franchises. Derek Fisher has a successful debut as an L.A .head coach last year. Of course, Fisher is known as a past Lakers player. He played in the NBA from 1996 through 2014. Additionally, he was once head coach of the New York Knicks.
Los Angeles finished 22-12 for Fisher before losing in the 2019 playoff semifinals. Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks in scoring for 2019 with 16.1 points per game. She won WNBA MVP honors in 2016. And is a six-time WNBA All-Star.