A few months into looking at women’s sports odds I shouldn’t be surprised, but guess what… a lot of sportsbooks haven’t updated their WNBA championship odds following free agency. That’s disappointingly negligent, but now you have the advantage!Here’s my ranking of all 12 teams heading into the 2022 season with links to the best odds that are available.
1. Chicago Sky
(+450 → bet $100 to win $450)
Re-signed Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley
Signed former Finals MVP in Emma Meesseman (!!!), Crystal Bradford
Traded for backup guard Julie Allemand
Lost contributors Stefanie Dolson, Diamond DeShields
Bottom line: The reigning champs got even better
2. Connecticut Sun
(+400 → bet $100 to win $400)
Re-signed MVP Jonquel Jones (!!!)
Signed All-Star guard Courtney Williams (!!!)
Lost defensive star Briann January
Bottom line: Last year’s best regular-season team made a key adjustment
3. Seattle Storm
(+500 → bet $100 to win $500)
Re-signed Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd, Mercedes Russell
Signed Briann January
Traded Katie Lou Samuelson for Gabby Williams
Bottom line: The big three is back for one last ride with some help
4. Phoenix Mercury
(+500 → bet $100 to win $500)
Re-signed Kia Nurse, Sophie Cunningham
Signed former MVP Tina Charles (!!!)
Traded for Diamond DeShields
Lost Bria Hartley via trade
Bottom line: Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner & Skylar-Diggins Smith, too. This is a freakin’ Olympic team
5. Las Vegas Aces
(+400 → bet $100 to win $400)
Re-signed Riquna Williams, Kiah Stokes
Lost All-Star Liz Cambage via free agency
Bottom line: Losing Cambage stinks, but it might help with spacing the floor
6. Washington Mystics
(+2000 → bet $100 to win $2,000)
Re-signed Myisha Hines-Allen, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
Signed All-Star Elizabeth Williams, Tianna Hawkins
Lost All-Star Tina Charles, Finals MVP Emma Meesseman via free agency
Bottom line: This team still has enough championship talent to win if healthy – IF HEALTHY!
7. Minnesota Lynx
(+1000 → bet $100 to win $1,000
Re-signed Layshia Clarendon
Signed All-Star Angel McCoughtry
All-Star Napheesa Collier will miss at least part of the season as she’s pregnant with her first child
Bottom line: McCoughtry’s a big-time add, but how long will Phee be out?
8. New York Liberty
(+3000 → bet $100 to win $3,000)
Re-signed Rebecca Allen
Signed Stefanie Dolson
Lost Jazmine Jones (waived), Leaonna Odom (waived)
Bottom line: Dolson helps, but the rest of the core must play better than last year together
9. Los Angeles Sparks
(+4000 → bet $100 to win $4,000)
Re-signed Te’a Cooper
Signed All-Star Liz Cambage, Jordin Canada
Traded for Chennedy Carter, Katie Lou Samuelson
Lost All-Star Erica Wheeler, Gabby Williams via trade
Bottom line: This team is a must-watch for Cambage-Carter-Ogwumikes purposes
10. Dallas Wings
(+6000 → bet $100 to win $6,000)
Re-signed All-Star Arike Ogunbowale
Bottom line: Keeping Arike was a must. Not enough else changed, though
11. Indiana Fever
(+10000 → bet $100 to win $6,000)
Re-signed Victoria Vivians
Signed Jazmine Jones, Emma Cannon
Traded for Bria Hartley
Lost Julie Allemand via trade, Kysre Gondrezick (waived)
Bottom line: Hartley’s a baller, but this team needs to find its direction
12. Atlanta Dream
(+10000 → bet $100 to win $10,000)
Re-signed Tiffany Hayes
Signed Nia Coffey
Traded for All-Star Erica Wheeler
Lost No. 3 pick Chennedy Carter via trade, Tianna Hawkins via free agency
Bottom line: There’s… a lot of work to be done
The Takeaway
Sportsbooks think little of the Mystics, but I don’t. Yes, they lost Charles and Meesseman, but if (key word here) Elena Delle Donne stays healthy, Washington has a scary team with Olympic gold medalist Ariel Atkins, and stars-in-their-role Myisha Hines-Allen, Natasha Cloud, Elizabeth Williams and Alysha Clark. +2000 is tempting!
