The 2020 WNBA and WNBA DFS season begin today. That’s a line that no one was sure they would type at all earlier this year. While the pandemic rages on, the players who have gathered in Bradenton have done so because of their desire to play.
The slate for Saturday, July 25, features three games, which a trio of online sportsbooks have odds upon as of 8 a.m. ET. More may follow later in the day. FanDuel, the official daily fantasy contest provider of the WNBA, has had its DFS games live for a while.
Following are my picks for wagering each game along with two players I recommend rostering for DFS today. First, a little bit of handy information.
How to legally bet and play DFS on Saturday’s WNBA games
If you’re in or near one of 10 states, you can legally wager on WNBA games online; as long as you are of legal age (at least 21 in most states), physically located within the state’s borders (you do not have to be a legal resident of these states, merely in them when you place your bet), and are placing your wager(s) with an operator licensed by that state. Here are the states:
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (minimum age is only 18)
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in other states, like New York and Washington, may offer lines on Saturday’s games as well. The online sports betting brands that are offering lines on these matches in these states right now include:
- BetRivers (Sugarhouse in New Jersey)
- DraftKings
- FOX Bet
- Oregon Lottery Scoreboard
If you’re new to these sportsbooks, you can register for an account online in just a few minutes and with a few pieces of information, except for in Iowa and Nevada. Those two states require bettors to visit a retail sportsbook associated with the sportsbook app of their choice to complete your registration.
FanDuel will accept paid entries for DFS from people in most states. If you aren’t sure, you can check your location here. If you’re in an eligible location, you can register for an account easily and quickly complete over the Internet.
Current FanDuel account holders, you’ll find a pleasant surprise when you log-in. FanDuel gave all of its US accounts $10 in site credit earlier this week. You can use that to play DFS for free.
Making things up as we go
Handicapping these three games is kind of a crapshoot. Consider the following facts that oddsmakers had to somehow allow for:
- The New York Liberty have seven rookies on their roster
- Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird haven’t played in well over a year
- Saturday will be the first game with the Phoenix Mercury for Skylar Diggins-Smith
- The Washington Mystics won’t have Elena Delle Donne and the Los Angeles Sparks are without Chiney Ogwumike
- All games will be played without spectators physically in attendance on a neutral court
- Players have been confined in the “wubble” for weeks after an extended layoff
- Teams haven’t had any preseason games
Usually, uncertainty means a better shot for bettors against the house in sports betting. It’s equally difficult for those considering these markets to know how all these factors, happening simultaneously to boot, will impact a particular game, however.
The real takeaway is that these circumstances compromise the effectiveness of relying on past data about these teams to predict future outcomes. In that regard, it acts to level the playing field.
A spread too far for the early game
In the noon ET game, most of the New York Liberty’s roster will play not only its first regular-season game together but its first WNBA regular-season game, ever. New York will face the odds-on favorite at several sportsbooks to win the title this year, the Seattle Storm, on ESPN.
If circumstances were normal, the gap in the odds on this game would be larger. FOX Bet has Seattle a -500 favorite, with the money line on the Liberty to pull off the upset at +300.
BetRivers and DraftKings are a bit more conservative, accounting for all the unknowns. The safest bet in this game is the Storm moneyline, but you’re going to pay for that security. FOX Bet has a line of +2000 on New York rookie Sabrina Ionescu becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double in the game.
Two lines that catch my eye are in FOX Bet’s Winning Margin 12-Way market. Seattle to win by 1-5 points sits at +430 while Seattle by 6-10 sits +310. I think this game is going to be closer than the standard 8.5-point spread, so I would take the +430 odds for Seattle to win by 1-5 points.
A potential nailbiter in the matinee
The 3 p.m. ET ABC game contains two teams that could very well meet in the Finals this year. It will also be the debut of Phoenix’s “Big Three.”
The spread is probably spot-on here, sitting at 3 points in Los Angeles’ favor. The moneyline on the Mercury, currently +123 at BetRivers and DraftKings, is quite tempting.
If you’re looking to take a flyer with a huge potential payout, then the 12-way Winning Margin market at FOX Bet is for you again. If either team blows out the other, it will be quite a surprise, however.
The best expected value for me is at FOX Bet, however. You can get the same +320 odds on Phoenix to win and the total to go over or under 154.5. I’ll take the +320 on a Mercury win and Under 154.5 total points.
A spread too conservative in the night cap
While Washington without Delle Donne and Kristi Tolliver is a diminished product as compared to their last appearance in the 2019 Finals, the current roster still has a great deal of talent to put on the court. It’s also facing an Indiana Fever team that will establish its identity in the early part of the season.
The -143 moneyline on the Mystics isn’t a bad value, and the 2.5-point spread doesn’t look too bad either. This is a stellar example of when I would take advantage of sportsbooks’ hesitation.
Live betting might be the best way to go in this one. For example, BetRivers is currently offering +110 on a Washington -1.5 spread in the first quarter. In terms of expected value, that might be about the best action you will see in this game.
This last game of the day features both players that I really like for DFS purposes Saturday. The absence of other players gives them opportunities to shine.
Two slam dunks for FanDuel DFS Saturday
FanDuel has several different contests at different price points, ranging from a quarter up to $25 in entry fees. There is also a free-to-play game as well, but you won’t win any money in that contest.
FanDuel has priced Leilani Mitchell at 5,700, but she could very well end up producing far beyond her usual line tonight. Her range makes her a weapon that Washington will need.
Mitchell has the fifth-best career 3-point percentage among active players and hit her career high in points last season. The 11-year veteran will likely play a similar role with the Mystics this year, but larger given the absence of Delle Donne’s offensive force.
On the other side of that court, it’s fair to expect Teaira McCowan to be one of Saturday’s top scorers at the discounted price of 7,200. She will look to build on a great rookie season in which she nearly averaged a double-double and set an Indiana franchise single-season rebounds record for rookies.
With Candice Dupree drawing the attention of Washington’s bigs, McCowan should have room to operate and surpass her 25.5 fantasy points per game average. She is cheaper than four other options at forward today as well.
Whether you play WNBA DFS, wager, or both on today’s WNBA games, it should add to your enjoyment. Good luck, and enjoy this unique season.
