Thanks to the influx of extraordinary young talent, the popularity of the WNBA is blowing up. Unsurprisingly, the betting markets are too. Showing respect to the wonderful women’s game, this gambler will occasionally dip his toe in the WNBA wagering waters.
The pick — SGP: Liberty ML, Caitlin Clark 5+ assists, Jonquel Jones 8+ rebounds (+105, BetMGM)
- BetMGM offer: $1500 in Bonus Bets paid back
Large arenas with 18,000+ packed to the gills. Record-breaking TV ratings. Merchandise sales well into the millions.
Queen Caitlin has revolutionized women’s pro basketball.
Dense-minded misogynists simply can’t wrap their primitive minds around it. On social media, they shout their disdain for the sport into an increasingly empty void. The game is growing by leaps and bounds. And roundball-crazed fans who don’t regularly seek action on the diamond or elsewhere are betting like bandits on the WNBA.
With the money-making monarch again taking the floor at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, here’s a breakdown of SGP legs in Liberty-Fever.
Liberty ML. Exchanging pleasantries with Indiana three times this season, Sandy Brondello’s bunch has emerged victorious in all three matchups by just a “measly” 22.0 points per game. Considering the Liberty have a +21.5 advantage over the Fever this year in net efficiency, it’s doubtful the upset bug bites them. If it does, it will be one of the biggest surprises of the season. At 17-3 overall and 7-2 in road contests, New York presents yet another reason why it's the best team in the W.
Caitlin Clark 5+ assists. The lack of attention casual observers have paid to Clark’s dime-dropping skills continues to be stupefying. Yes, she’s an elite shotmaker with limitless range, but her talents as a facilitator are nothing short of spectacular. Her vision, velocity and pass accuracy are like Chris Paul in his prime. This season, she’s averaging 7.1 assists, reaching the needed number in 19 of 21 games. In her three previous tilts against New York, Clark dished out five, eight and six assists. Even in a difficult on-paper matchup — the Liberty rank No. 3 in fewest opponent assists per game over their last 10 contests — Indiana’s floor general won’t be held in check.
Jonquel Jones 8+ rebounds. The New York forward, similar to Clark archrival Angel Reese, is one of the premier paint patrollers in the game. Averaging 8.8 rebounds, she’s a machine on the glass. In three prior meetings against Indiana this year, the former league MVP accounted for 10, 12 and 13 rebounds. Yes, the Fever are a respectable No. 6 in opponent boards per game over their last 10 contests (33.4), They’re also No. 3 in field-goal percentage during that stretch. Still, Jones has snatched eight or more boards in 70% of her games this season. It’s doubtful that trend is bucked.
WNBA season record: 13-9, +7.08 units