Caitlin Clark Debut And Las Vegas Aces WNBA Dominance Towards Three-Peat

The 2024 WNBA season tips off and the Las Vegas Aces WNBA dominance continues as the Aces shoot for a three-peat. The two-time defending women’s champs are even money favorites (+100) to win a third-straight WNBA championship. I chip-in WNBA coverage in my basketball report in Forbes.

Here is most the article following a post in Forbes May 9.

The 2024 WNBA regular season tips off on Tuesday, May 14 and runs through September 19. Following a pause from July 21-Aug. 14 for the Paris Olympics, the Las Vegas Aces will push towards the playoffs with a chance to win a third consecutive WNBA championship.

The Aces are the prohibitive favorites to win the WNBA title ahead of last year’s WNBA Finals opponent New York Liberty. The stars shine on those two teams with last year’s All-Star Captains A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart leading four Aces and three Liberty players on the All-Star teams.

The star rookie Caitlan Clark of the Indiana Fever is expected to make a major impact on her team and the women’s pro basketball league as fans and bettors continue to provide more support of the WNBA.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed the Las Vegas Aces return to the White House today to celebrate their back-to-back championships.

2024 WNBA Championship Odds And Betting Data

WNBA championship odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.

• 100: Las Vegas Aces
• +230: New York Liberty
• +1000: Seattle Storm
• +1200: Connecticut Sun
• +2300: Indiana Fever
• +2600: Dallas Wings
• +3000: Phoenix Mercury
• +4500: Atlanta Dream, Minnesota Lynx
• +5000: Chicago Sky
• +8500: Washington Mystics
• +10000: Los Angeles Sparks

Aside from the array of accomplished pros leading the Las Vegas Aces WNBA team towards a third-straight championship, fans will follow women’s pro basketball more closely this season. The WNBA’s No. 1 pick in April’s draft is already having an impact, as rookie Caitlin Clark shoots to lead the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016. Clark leads the backcourt and joins the Fever’s No. 1 overall pick in last year’s WNBA Draft, forward Aliyah Boston.

The “Caitlin Clark Effect” already caused the Aces to move their July 2 game against the Indiana Fever to T-Mobile Arena, which will allow for a larger capacity (20,000). The Aces have already sold out a number of home games at Michelob Ultra Arena (12,000) inside Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip.

And betting on the WBNA has never been more brisk at the leading online sportsbooks.

“We have a lot more tickets on the title odds than we ever did at this point in prior seasons,” Westgate SuperBook oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. “The Aces and Liberty are leading the way, but there’s a lot of interest throughout on all the teams.”

Sherman added, “I can tell already that it’s got a heightened interest due to Clark’s effect.”

WNBA Season Win Totals

Each teams regular season over/under win totals based on a 40 game schedule.

• 18.5: Atlanta
• 12.5: Chicago
• 23.5: Connecticut
• 20.5: Dallas
• 20.5: Indiana
• 32.5: Las Vegas
• 10.5: Los Angeles
• 17.5: Minnesota
• 29.5: New York
• 18.5: Phoenix
• 24.5: Seattle
• 11.5: Washington

Opening Night Odds

WNBA game odds from FanDuel Sportsbook refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Betting odds and spreads listed on favorites.

Tues., May 14

• New York (-12.5) at Washington
• Indiana at Connecticut (-5.5)
• Minnesota at Seattle (-10.5)
• Phoenix at Las Vegas (-13.5)

Wed., May 15

• Chicago at Dallas (-11.5)
• Atlanta (-5.5) at Los Angeles
• New York (-6.5) at Indiana

The final roster cuts for WNBA teams is May 13. There is more good WNBA news on the horizon beyond betting on what will be the most watched and wagered season in women’s pro basketball history. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is talking about expanding and wants to have 16 WNBA teams by 2028 – which is when the relocated MLB Las Vegas A’s will begin play in a new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Las Vegas Aces may have built a dynasty in women’s basketball by then.

You can bet on it.

Photo Credit: Getty Images