The WNBA season tipped off over the weekend and FanDuel updated its WNBA title odds. Three teams are co-favorites to win 2020 WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks at 9/2 odds apiece. The Las Vegas Aces are right behind the co-leaders at 5/1 odds to win their first title. The New York Liberty, led by rookie sensation Sabrina Ionescu, saw their odds jump from 40/1 to 13/1.
The Washington Mystics won the championship last season. It’s been a difficult task to win the WNBA title in back-to-back seasons, which hasn’t been done since 2002. But it’s 2020 and the entire year has gone sideways, so you never know what can happen in these weird and unprecedented times.
WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Washington Mystics 9/2
Los Angeles Sparks 9/2
Seattle Storm 9/2
Las Vegas Aces 5/1
Connecticut Sun 6/1
Phoenix Mercury 17/2
Chicago Sky 13/1
New York Liberty 13/1
Minnesota Lynx 27/1
Indiana Fever 55/1
Atlanta Dream 70/1
Dallas Wings 70/1
The Seattle Storm and Washington Mystics started the season 2-0. Along with the Chicago Sky, those are the only undefeated teams at the start of the season. Both the Las Vegas Aces and LA Sparks are 1-1 after two games thus far.
At the end of May, the Las Vegas Aces were the consensus favorite to win the next WNBA championship. The Aces were initially 5/2 odds to win the title. The Aces slipped to 5/1 odds according to the last update at FanDuel.
Sabrina Time, Lofty Rookie Expectations
It’s been nothing but good news for the New York Liberty ever since James Dolan sold the team to Joseph Tsai (from Alibaba fame), who also owns the Brooklyn Nets. Dolan had relegated the Liberty to playing games at the Westchester County Coliseum instead of sharing the same court as the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. When Tsai bought the Liberty, he moved them to Brooklyn where they share a court with the Nets.
With the #1 pick in the WNBA Draft, the Liberty selected Sabrina Ionescu. The Oregon star could have gone pro after her junior season, but stuck around for her senior year in an attempt to lead the Lady Ducks to a championship. The coronavirus pandemic pulled the plug on March Madness, but Ionescu still went #1 in the draft.
Too bad NYC hoops fans were unable to watch any WNBA games this season and catch the WNBA rookie and future superstar. The WNBA operates inside its own bubble at IMG Academy in Florida.
Ionescu struggled in her debut with only 12 points, but she looked like a seasoned pro last night. In only her second game as a pro, Ionescu dropped 33 points and knocked down six 3-pointers. She finished the game with 7 assists and 7 rebounds in a loss for the Liberty.
It’s only been two games, but Ionescu is currently the third-best scorer in the league with 22.5 ppg. The Connecticut Suns’ DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas are tied for the scoring co-lead with 24 ppg.
The Liberty are now 13/1 odds to win the title, despite their 0-2 start. Before the WNBA Draft, the Liberty were hovering around 70/1 odds. After they drafted Ionescu, the Liberty’s title odds were bumped to 40/1.
Rook @sabrina_i20 WENT OFF!
33 PTS | 6 3PM | 7 REB | 7 AST#WatchMeWork 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XuzkctR440
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 30, 2020
