What’s up Karma Nation and welcome to my WNBA Season Preview Article! The WNBA season is officially kicking off tomorrow and this will be your one stop shop for everything you need to get prepared for this season. We already had one of the most active offseasons ever and now we have players opting out either due to Covid or to help fight social issues. This should make for a fun season which could lead to way more parity or a team that didn’t have a chance at the playoffs to make it now. With many teams’ best players opting out to play we will end up seeing a wide-open contest for first place. Could we see the Mystics go from first to worst?
They will be playing a shortened season this year. Instead of 33 games there will only be 22 games played. The season started tomorrow July 25th and they will also being playing in Orlando along with the NBA.
All vegas lines are based on Draftkings Sportsbook. Lines may vary based on time you are reading this or if you are using a different bookie!
Atlanta Dream
2019 Record: 8-26
Vegas Projections: 6.5 wins
Important Additions: Courtney Williams, Kalani Brown, Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen
Drafted: Chennedy Carter (1.4), Brittany Brewer (2.5), Mikayla Pivec (3.1), Kobi Thornton (3.3),
Important Departures: Alex Bentley, Jessica Breland, Angel McCoughtry and Brittney Sykes
Opting Out: Tiffany Hayes and Renee Montgomery
The Dream are coming off a terrible season, but the good news is they are getting a complete makeover. Courtney Williams and Shekinna Stricklen are looking to make a culture change as they come from the Connecticut Sun who made the finals last year. Sometimes all you need is a culture change in the locker room to turn things around. They will most likely be starting their first-round and 4th overall pick Chennedy Carter at PG. Having a rookie PG does pose problems especially during a short offseason and season with not much time to develop. Hopefully Courtney Williams is able to take her under her wing and get her off to a quick start or it could be another rough season for the Dream. We could see the Dream slowly move off Liz Williams as they want to try to get Brown more playing time and develop the young talent. Williams is in a contract year so the potential of her being out of the picture next year could lead the Dream giving up on the 5th year player and enter a complete rebuild mode. With Tiffany Hayes and Renee Montgomery opting out of the season that could easily become reality.
Chicago Sky
2019 Record: 20-14
Vegas Projections: 9.5 wins
Important Additions: Azura Stevens
Drafted: Ruthy Hebard (1.8), Japreece Dean (3.6), Kiah Gillespie (3.8)
Important Departures: Katie Lou Samuelson, Astou Ndour, Kayla Alexander, Jamierra Faulker
Opting Out: None
With no players opting out for the season the Sky are in a much better position than most teams, who have lost starting caliber players. Although, the Sky are losing Jantel Lavender to a foot injury this season. While this does hurt the Sky’s size this gives Stephanie Dolson the opportunity to stretch the floor. Plus, the addition of Stevens helps fill the role Lavender is leaving behind. They still have Cheyenne Parker and with their first round draft pick, Ruthy Hebard, who averaged 17 PPG and 9.0 RPG. She is one of 3 top 10 draft picks from Oregon and could make an instant influence in the league with the Sky being short handed in the frontcourt. A shortened season and limited offseason prep cause the Sky have an advantage that most teams don’t, Chemistry! Many teams are dealing with a lot of new faces. I love them over 9.5 wins and as a dark horse to win the championship!
Connecticut Sun
2019 Record: 23-11
Vegas Projections: None yet
Important Additions: DeWanna Bonner and Briann January
Drafted: Kaila Charles (2.11), Juicy Landrum (3.11)
Important Departures: Shekinna Stricklen, Courtney Williams, Rachel Banham, Morgan Tuck and Layshia Clarendon
Opting Out: Jonquel Jones
The Sun were able to make a huge off season acquisition for DeWanna Bonner and after making the finals last year this should have put them in a great spot to repeat their success. That thought was before the news that Jonquel Jones will not be playing this year. Jones is a top 5 player in the WNBA. She was the perfect combination of size and ability to shoot 3s. Which drew bigs away from the basket, they while struggle to defend the 3. She’s one of the main reasons for their success. This now leaves Thomas and Bonner to put up big numbers while playing potential career high in minutes this year, which is better for fantasy and props because we have concentrated usage rates!
Dallas Wings
2019 Record: 10-24
Vegas Projections: 7.5 wins
Important Additions: Adour Ndour, Marina Mabrey and Katie Lou Samuelson
Drafted: Satou Sabally (1.2), Bella Alarie (1.5), Tyasha Harris (1.7), Luisa Geiselsoder (2.9),
Important Departures: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Glory Johnson, Azura Stevens, Karlie Samuelson and Kaela Davis
Opting Out: Imani McGee Stafford
The Dallas Wings are another team that have fully committed to the rebuild. They had 3 first round picks this year. In return they have lost Skylar Diggins-Smith and Azura Stevens. They are finally able to unleash Moriah Jefferson who they had last year but was struggling with a nagging knee injury and decided to opt out of the season to make a full recovery. The Wings needed a true point guard to go along with Arike Ogunbowale. Arike was sensational last year leading all rookies in scoring while finishing third in the league, behind Brittany Griner and Elena Delle-Donne. The Wings played at the slowest pace in the league last year and were in perfect spots for unders, but with a new PG and Arike wanting to speed up the game we should see that pace increase without odds makers realizing!
Indiana Fever
2019 Record: 13-21
Vegas Projections: 7.5 wins
Important Additions: Julie Allemand
Drafted: Lauren Cox (1.3), Kathleen Doyle (2.2), Kamiah Smalls (3.4)
Important Departures: Betnijah Laney, Erica McCall and Paris Kea
Opting Out: None!
The Fever aren’t the most dominate team in the team but they do have the advantage of no players opting out and very little additions to the team. Erica Wheeler is one of the best PGs in the league even though she doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. The progression of Teaira McCowan and the addition of number 3 overall pick Lauren Cox at PF make this front court extremely dangerous. They aren’t a team that is going to make any noise in the playoffs or even make the playoffs but they are a team no one wants to face, especially from an interior defense point of view. They also have a top scorer off the bench in Tiffany Mitchell who plays a sort of Lou Williams role. Good enough to be a starter but thrives off the bench. Moving Candice Dupree to the bench also expands their depth. I don’t love the over 7.5 wins for the Fever, I would rather get them at 6.5 wins, but I’m putting 1 unit (1% of my bankroll) on the over. Also love them at +3.5 tomorrow against the Mystics, even like them at the ML of +133. The Mystics don’t have the bigs to slow down McCowan!
LA Sparks
2019 Record: 22-12
Vegas Projections: 14.5 wins
Important Additions: Seimone Augustus, Brittney Sykes, Kristi Toliver, Reshanda Gray, Te’a Cooper, Kristie Anigwe and Marie Gulich
Drafted: Beatrice Mompremier (2.8), Leonie Fiebich (2.10), Tynice Martin (3.10)
Important Departures: Kalani Brown and Alana Beard
Opting Out: Kristi Toliver, Chiney Ogwumike and Maria Vadeeva
The Sparks have a chance to become the favorites to win the WNBA championship this year. With 2-time MVP Candace Parker and former MVP Nneka Ogwumike leading the way. They were expected to have the top team in the league, after adding Toliver to their starting lineup. A starting lineup of Toliver, Gray, the Ogwumike sisters and Parker would have rivaled the Aces and the Mystics for the top starting lineups in the league. I would have bet heavy on them to win it all this year. Unfortunately, this is the new normal and we are dealing with WNBA players opting out this year either for social issues or medical reasons. So many teams will be taking a hit to their rosters. They still have two of the best bigs in the league leading their team so they are still in great shape. With a shortened season, these vets will be relied on heavily and have a huge edge against teams that either have had many roster changes or are young and still developing their stars. Riquna Williams is supposed to take huge step forward in the offense and Fisher will be relying on her heavily to pick up where Toliver was supposed to play. Look for her to be a great value night one on FD at only 4.6k. Sykes is an interesting addition to the Sparks. She is in a contract year so she will have to step up and take a huge role either as a difference maker off the bench or a sneak into the starting lineup. Where she won’t be as valuable on the DFS side.
Minnesota Lynx
2019 Record: 18-16
Vegas Projections: 10.5 wins
Important Additions: Shenise Johnson, Rachel Banham, Kayla Alexander, and Megan Huff
Drafted: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (1.6), Crystal Dangerfield (2.4),
Important Departures: Seimone Augustus, Danielle Robinson, and Stephanie Talbot
Opting Out: Maya Moore and Cecilia Zandalasini
The Lynx are a mystery to me this season and I can’t get a read on them for futures bets. They have a dominant front court led by reigning Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier and former MVP Sylvia Fowles, but that’s it for the team. I just see them as a middle of the pack team that didn’t make enough improvements in the offseason compared to the rest of the bubble teams to make much noise. Odyssey sims gave birth to her first child in April, so her status for this season is still up in the air. Without her I just don’t see the Lynx having much success this year, but they still could sneak into a .500 record.
New York Liberty
2019 Record: 10-24
Vegas Projections: 10.5 wins
Important Additions: Layshia Clarendon and Stephanie Talbot
Drafted: Sabrina Ionescu (1.1), Megan Walker (1.9), Jazmine Jones (1.12), Kylee Shook (2.1), Leonna Odom (2.3), Erica Ogwumike (3.2)
Important Departures: Tina Charles, Bria Hartley, Brittany Boyd, Tanisha Wright, Reshanda Gray and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe.
Opting Out: Rebecca Allen, Stephanie Talbot, Marine Johannes, Han Xu and Asia Durr
It is clear that the Liberty are in a rebuilding stage this year. They traded away their franchise corner stone Tina Charles to the Mystics, who was top 3 in usage rate over the last 5 years and led the league 3 times during that time, in a 3 team deal. In return the Liberty received; the 9th, 12th and 15th overall pick. As well as Shatori Walker-Kimbough and Tayler Hill. They turned those picks into Megan Walker (9th), Jazmine Jones (12th) and Leonna Odom (15th). The Liberty are receiving much deserved hype as they had the number 1 overall pick, selecting one of the top prospects the league has seen; Sabrina Ionescu. If you don’t follow Women’s Basketball I would compare the hype to Zion this year. Sabrina dominated at Oregon, becoming the first college basketball player (Male or Female) to have 2000 career points, 1000 career assists, and 1000 career rebounds. She also obliterated the triple double record in college with 26. Which is more than two times as much as second place with 12. She is the clear front runner for rookie of the year and with the departure of Tina Charles, Bria Hartley, and Brittany Boyd there is way too much usage to go around this season for her not to dominate in her rookie campaign. The only issue with this team is they are all young, there are two rookies projected in the starting lineup and 7 new additions to the team contributing big minutes there may not be the chemistry there, especially at the start of the season. I’m going under on the 10.5 win total!
Phoenix Mercury
2019 Record: 15-19
Vegas Projections: 12.5 wins
Important Additions: Jessica Breland, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Bria Hartley and Shatori Walker-Kimbough
Drafted: Jocelyn Willoughby (1.10) Te’a Cooper (2.6), Stella Johnson (3.5)
Important Departures: DeWanna Bonner, Layshia Clarendon, Briann January, Leilani Mitchell, Essence Carson, Sancho Lyttle, and Camille Little.
Opting Out: Jessica Breland.
The Mercury are another sneaky team to make some noise this year, but they also have a ton of question marks. The addition of Skylar Diggins-Smith was huge to fill DeWanna Bonner’s role, but they have an aging, injury riddled superstar in Diana Taurasi, which only played 6 games last season because of back surgery. She also said if she opted out this season then she would probably just retire. This creates a grey area because we don’t really know how much we will get from her, appearing in 7 games for Team USA in November averaging 6.4 PPG and 2.4 assists per game. I’m not expecting much from her this season, but the veteran presence helps any team in moments of adversity. If I was betting on this team’s win total I would go under. They have a high ceiling but their floor is way too low for me to go over on them.
Seattle Storm
2019 Record: 18-16
Vegas Projections: 15.5 wins
Important Additions: Morgan Tuck
Drafted: Kitija Laksa (1.11), Joyner Holmes (2.7), Haley Gorecki (3.7)
Important Departures: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Shavonte Zellous, Courtney Paris, and Blake Dietrick
Opting Out: Kitija Laksa
The Storm are in my top 2 teams this year, right next to the Sparks. The Storm return two of their best players while also keeping their core 4 starters from last year. This moves steals leader, Jordin Canada, to the bench as they welcome back Sue Bird. They also have the 2018 MVP, Breanna Stewart, returning from an Achilles tear. This injury usually takes around a year to recover, luckily for her, she has had over a year to recover and was seen playing overseas during the winter for Team USA and UMMC (Russia). She has gotten plenty of practice in since the injury to make us believe she is good to go to dominate this league again. There was a plus to Stewey and Bird missing last years season; they were able to develop young talent like Jordin Canada while giving Loyd and Howard prominent roles in the offense. They put themselves in an amazing spot to repeat what they did in 2018 and win the championship on the back of Stewey’s potential MVP season. One red flag to watch is the Strom will not have their head coach this season. He will not be at the Wubble because he is medically high risk, so Gary Kloppenburg, who has been the assistant coach for the Storm since 2017, will be filling in as interim head coach. I’m a little nervous to bet the over 15.5 wins because that’s a lot but they should be considered a huge threat to win the championship. If they aren’t less than +600 to win the championship that’s good value.
Vegas Aces
2019 Record: 21-13
Vegas Projections: 11.5 wins
Important Additions: Alex Bentley, Angel McCoughtry and Danielle Robinson
Drafted: Lauren Manis (3.9)
Important Departures: Tamera Young and Sydney Colson
Opting Out: Liz Cambage and JiSu Park
The Aces are coming off an amazing 2019 season and look to build on their success this year after adding more guards and a vet in McCoughtry. Kelsey Plum tore her Achilles in June and will miss the entire 2020 season. Robinson looks to fill that role nicely. She was added to the team this offseason coming from the Lynx. Even with the Aces missing their 2017 number 1 overall pick they still have plenty of star power, led by their star frontcourt player and potential MVP, A’ja Wilson. Wilson’s stats sky rockets with Cambage off the floor and now she has an entire season to put up those stats. If the Aces are able to secure a top 2 seed this year there is a very high chance, she wins MVP. We also get a great chance to see last year’s number 1 overall pick Jackie Young shine, in a way less crowded back court, with Plum missing this season. Even though she was the number 1 overall pick last year she was drafted by one of the best teams in the league so the opportunity was never there. It will be interesting to see who gets the start this year; Robinson or Young.
Washington Mystics
2019 Record: 26-8
Vegas Projections: 12.5 wins
Important Additions: Tina Charles, Leilani Mitchell, Essence Carson, Alaina Coates, and Shey Peddy
Drafted: Jaylyn Agnew (2.12), Sug Sutton (3.12)
Important Departures: Kristi Toliver and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
Opting Out: Natasha Cloud, LaToya Sanders, Tina Charles, and Elena Delle-Donne (Possibly?)
The Mystics are coming off a championship season but now have to deal with some adversity. They lose their star guard and former Wizards coach Kristi Toliver who signed with the Sparks. Plus, the loss of Cloud, Sanders, Charles, and possibly Delle-Donne. The Mystics had put themselves in a promising situation to repeat as WNBA champions this offseason. Unfortunately, they were hit with the opt out bug and now they are missing all but one starter from last year’s Championship team (Atkins) and their key offseason addition (Charles) isn’t playing either. This puts Emma Meesseman is a spot where she can dominate the offensive usage. With no other true dominate scorer on this team she will have to play more minutes than she ever has. Look for career highs across the board from her this year. Books still haven’t adjusted for everyone lost on this team so stop what you are doing go to your book and bet their win total under. Thank me later! Some books have them all the way up at 14.5 wins. They have the potential to hit the under by game 10!
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