WNBA Betting Recap – 8/13-8/19

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

League Betting Notes (Monday, Aug. 13 through Sunday, Aug. 19)

-- Favorites went 14-3 straight up (SU)
-- Underdogs went 9-7-1 against the spread (ATS)
-- Home teams went 12-5 SU
-- Road teams went 11-5-1 ATS
-- The 'over' went 9-7-1

Team Betting Notes

--  Atlanta  (23-11) held off  Washington  (21-12) for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and they earned the No. 2 seed and a bye into the semifinals. The Dream have been amazing against the number, going 15-2 SU/ATS across their final 17 regular-season games dating back to July 6. The Dream enter the postseason a fourth in the league in opponent scoring (79.5), and they posted a +2.3 point differential during the regular season.

-- Connecticut  (21-13) will have a first-round bye as the No. 4 seed before taking to the court on Thursday. The Sun closed the regular season on a high note, winning four straight and eight of their final nine outings, while going 6-3 ATS over the final nine. The 'over' also went 6-2 over the final eight contests. The Sun managed a +5.9 point differential this season, leading the WNBA with 87.6 PPG while giving up 81.7 PPG. They're a dangerous club heading into the playoffs, and they're the hottest over the past 10 games with a 9-1 mark.

--  Dallas  (15-19) was the opposite of the Sun, limping home with a 1-10 SU/ATS mark across their final 11 regular-season games. Thankfully for the Wings, their overall body of work and good play early in the season still helped them qualify. Despite the ugly finish they still managed a +1.3 point differential, and the dynamic Liz Cambage helped them to 86.6 PPG, third-best offense in the league. If they wish to stick around in the playoffs they'll need better defense, however, as they enter with 85.4 PPGA, worst among all playoff teams.

--  Los Angeles  (19-15) heads to the postseason in a strange spot, as they have to have to go on Day 1. Normally the Sparks are in much better position. The best part about the Sparks this season was their defense, ranking No. 1 in the league at just 77.0 PPGA. However, they're tied for the worst offensive production among playoff teams at just 78.9 PPG with their first-round opponent,  Minnesota  (18-16).

-- The Lynx head into the postseason with the worst point differential of all playoff teams at just +0.7. The defending champs picked up a very important win againt  Washington  (22-12) in the regular-season finale, perhaps providing a nice springboard into the playoffs. They closed with three straight 'over' results, too, but they gave up 90.0 PPG in the final three contests. They'll need better defensive effort if they're to defend their crown.

--  Phoenix  (20-14) heads into the playoffs on a high note, winning four in a row while going 3-1 ATS over the final four, and 5-2 ATS across the past seven. The 'over' is 4-0-1 in their past five, too. They'll take on the stumbling Wings, so Phoenix will be heavy favorites.

--  Seattle  (26-8) rolled to the No. 1 seed and a bye into the semis. They finished strong with three straight wins and 'under' results, and the rest will do them good. The Storm rolled up 87.2 PPG, second-best in the league and tops among Western Conference clubs. They also led the WNBA with a +7.6 point differential, nearly a bucket better than the Sun, the next best (+5.9).

-- The Mystics fell just short in the East and will have to play on Thursday. They posted a 12-5 mark at home this season, and a respectable +3.1 point differential. Down the stretch they were hotter than almost anyone, going 8-2 SU. However, they failed to cover in back-to-back games to close out the season, just the third time since early June they failed to cover in consecutive games.

Joe Williams can be followed on Twitter at JoeWilliamsVI.

VegasInsider Staff

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