WNBA playoff predictions, odds: Aces repeat, Angel Reese guides deep Dream run
We’re about to witness the deepest playoff field in WNBA history.A reasonable case could be made for all eight teams reaching the Finals if things fall into place for their group.Anything can happen in a best-of-three first-round series, and the gap between the top seed and the lowest seed is relatively small compared to previous seasons.What’s even more fascinating is the perception of some teams entering the season versus their perception heading into the playoffs.The Liberty were title favorites in May, and now they’re the No.
8 seed.The Valkyries entered the season with 30/1 odds and finished with the second-best record in the ‘W.’The Mystics were 80/1 in the preseason and nabbed the fifth seed in the postseason.The Lynx are the championship favorites with +110 odds to win it all, a well-deserved spot for the team with the best record in the league.But the books seem to be undervaluing two teams in particular.With all the hype around the Lynx this season, it feels like the Aces, the reigning champions, have flown under the radar.Vegas finished the season with the second-best offensive rating in the league thanks to another brilliant offensive season from A’ja Wilson.
She can get a bucket whenever she wants and is still adept at guarding every position on the floor, yet the Aces’ title odds are priced at +480, which is slightly higher than their +440 odds before the season.They’ll face the high-octane Fever in the first round and could face the Valkyries and their top-ranked defense if both teams make the second round.Neither of those teams has the balance on both ends that the Aces can bring — at their best, the Fever have an average defense, and the Valkyries are near the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency.The other team that could be dangerous is the Dream.They join the Lynx and Aces as the only three teams that rank top five in offensive and defensive rating this season.
Angel Reese has been one of the best defensive players in ...