Women’s basketball has never been better: What sports bettors should know

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for readers in the United States who are interested in sports betting.

Caitlyn Clark has ushered in an era of unprecedented interest in women’s basketball. What thousands of fans were surprised to learn is that the sport is actually quite interesting even without her.

If you are interested in betting on women’s basketball next year, you’ll need to get the lay of the land. As the league continues to expand, there are more opportunities than ever for online sports betting at Bovada.

The Current State of Affairs

Sports fans who watched the WNBA playoffs received a true treat this year. Though Caitlyn Clark and her team appeared for only two games, and Angel Reese, Clark’s well-known rival, did not make the playoffs at all (her Chicago Sky team finished the season with an abysmal losing record) fans were delighted by the tense clash between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx.

The Liberty went into the year with a chip on their shoulder, having lost in the fourth game of the finals last year against the Las Vegas Aces. Still, expectations were high. The team went in with a super trio in the form of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Janquelle Jones—the eventual MVP of the finals.

They had also gained a high-profile rookie acquisition in the form of Leonie Fiebich, whose skill from beyond the ark helped them hold their own against a relentless Lynx defense.

Expectations were not quite so high for the Lynx. Still, they went in with two advantages: Their defense—they were the most effective defensive squad in the league—and their heart. The Lynx were noted for moving the ball freely. The team has stars—most notably a big three in the form of Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride, and Courtney Williams, but individual egos are lost in a team that is arguably the best in the league at working together.

The Lynx also got a lot of mileage out of Bridget Carleton and Allana Smith, both of whom proved instrumental throughout the tense five-game series.

The contest was ultimately won by New York, in overtime at their home court in Brooklyn. Still, the exciting finals proved that the WNBA has a lot more going for it than a certain young woman from Iowa.

Looking Ahead

The big question after any championship is “Can they do it again?” Though it is obscenely early, a betting person could do worse than to stake the Liberty to repeat in the 2025 season. For one thing, most of their lineup will remain intact.

Stewie, Ionescu, and Janquelle Jones will all be returning next season. There is the potential for a few impactful transitions. Most notably, Courtney Vandersloot, a second-string point guard who scored a lot of points from the bench this season, will be a free agent over the offseason. Though she may resign with the Liberty, there is a reasonable chance that the aging athlete will seek more than the reigning champions would be willing to pay her.

There is also an expansion team poised to hit the league next year. The Golden State Valkyries. In the coming months an “Expansion Draft,” will open, basically allowing the Valkyries to poach one player from each team. If that sounds chaotic, there are rules attached. Each team is allowed to “protect,” six players (or prospects) from the draft.

Still, this expansion draft does add a degree of uncertainty, making it difficult to predict what the league will look like next season.

Other Teams to Pay Attention To

The Lynx certainly deserve another look next year. Napheesa Collier, Defensive Player of the Year and obvious choice for MVP had A’ja Wilson not had a titanic, record-breaking year, is a force in her own right. She’s backed by an impressive starting lineup and a deep bench.

The Indiana Fever, Caitlyn Clark’s team, is also worth paying attention to. They’ve got a new coach, Stephanie White, with a strong record. They also have Aliyah Boston, the 2023 first-round draft pick and rookie of the year.

While their season was cut short by the Sun this year, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to watch them go the distance in 2025.

Conclusion

Adding more uncertainty to the mix, seven of the twelve teams fired their coaches in the off-season. Some coaches got moved around—the Connecticut coach went to Indiana, for example, while other teams seem to be using some of the league’s new capital (the WNBA just signed a massive $120 million broadcasting deal) to beef up their talent.

Right now, it’s a wild ride. Isn’t that always the way in the offseason? Here’s the bottom line: Women’s sports are having a big moment right now. The Lynx, the Liberty, and all of the other teams in the playoffs this year managed to prove to a massive captive audience that the WNBA is a compelling entertainment product with or without Caitlin Clark. How will you be betting next Spring?

ADVT.

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