A long but entertaining WNBA offseason is finally nearing its conclusion, meaning the start of the 2022 season is near. Precisely, we’re 10 days away from tip-off. And as training camps get underway, the excitement and anticipation are growing.
There are many reasons to get pumped for the upcoming season. For one, the new playoff format that’ll include first-round series for every playoff team, thus eliminating the byes and double-byes of past postseasons. Then, there are the many teams that have positioned themselves to contend for a 2022 WNBA championship.
Who are those teams? We’ll identify the few that find themselves in the championship or bust tier, while also looking at the odds of teams who fall into the other categories.
All odds via Tipico Sportsbook.
Rebuilding Teams
(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
Atlanta Dream (+8000)
The Atlanta Dream are moving in the right direction. They have a new, Executive of the Year-winning GM, hired a new coach, moved on from players that weren’t necessarily fitting what the team wanted in the locker room and traded up for the No.1 pick of the 2022 draft.
That said, the Dream are not contenders, or even close. They’ll spend this year beginning the process and piecing things together for future seasons. Atlanta could be in a different tier a year or two from now.
Indiana Fever (+9000)
Similar to Atlanta, the Fever hit a reset. Although, they’ve kind of hit the reset multiple times now in the last few years. But they did move on from Tamika Catchings as their GM and did well with their many picks in this 2022 WNBA Draft.
It’s all about the future for Indiana. Getting NaLyssa Smith established as one of the two franchise cornerstones alongside Kelsey Mitchell begins this season. Anything else should be secondary.
Dark Horse Contenders
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Liberty (+3000)
A playoff team a season ago, the Liberty have a good thing going. A good thing that could become a great thing in 2022, if luck is on their side. That is, injury luck — Sabrina Ionescu’s ankle, Natasha Howard’s knee and Betnijah Laney’s knee. And if New York gets production from newly-signed, veteran center Stefani Dolson, along with second-year jumps from Michaela Onyenwere and DiDi Richards, the Liberty could surprise folks. Lots of ifs, but +3000 odds could next a nice payout if you believe in this Sandy Brondello-coached team.
Dallas Wings (+5000)
I’m not sure what to make of Dallas’ one major offseason move, which was the acquisition of Teaira McCowan. She’s a talent upgrade that doesn’t necessarily fit the makeup of last season’s Wings. But a talent upgrade is exactly that at the end of the day. If McCowan can help raise the ceiling of a playoff team that rosters one of the league’s premier scorers (Arike Ogunbowale), you have to consider them as a dark horse.
Washington Mystics (+1500)
Is Elena Delle Donne going to be healthy? How about Alysha Clark? Or Myisha Hines-Allen? None of the three were in 2021 (Clark missed the whole season), which left the Mystics out of the playoffs. If health is an issue again, they’re a lottery team. But good health and continuity open the door for a long playoff run.
Los Angeles Sparks (+4000)
The Sparks have a sizably different roster than a season ago. Of course, last season’s team missed out on the postseason, so a re-tooling could be a good thing. And when that re-tooling comes with players as talented as Liz Cambage, Chennedy Carter and Jordin Canada, the outlook of the team changes dramatically. The question is if the Sparks can put it all together in Year 1.
Nearly Elite
(Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
Phoenix Mercury (+550)
There’s still a lot left to be determined regarding Brittney Griner’s heartbreaking detainment in Russia. With respect to the ongoing situation, there are also obvious impacts on both Griner’s and the Phoenix Mercury’s immediate basketball futures.
Behind Griner’s dominant 2021 season, the Mercury made their way to the WNBA Finals, where they fell to the Chicago Sky. Phoenix won’t be the same without BG, but Tina Charles’s addition could make for a similar ceiling and floor. Charles had an MVP-caliber 2021 season and presuming she’s in that ballpark in 2022, she’ll keep the Mercury as a championship contender.
Las Vegas Aces (+350)
No more Liz Cambage, no more Bill Laimbeer and no more Dan Padover. From the front office to the staff and roster, the Aces are going to be different this year. Cambage’s departure for Los Angeles could be a blow, but as long as A’ja Wilson is in a Las Vegas jersey, the Aces will have a chance to contend for a championship.
Minnesota Lynx (+900)
We didn’t forget that the Lynx finished with the third-best record in the W last season. Their great season was overshadowed by an early playoff exit to the eventual champion Chicago Sky. But just about everyone from that team is back in 2022, although Kayla McBride’s debut will be delayed due to overseas obligations, and so will Napheesa Collier’s (due to give birth in May). But should those two be available for enough of the season, the Lynx’s +900 odds to win a championship in Sylvia Fowles’ final season could make for a good wager.
Championship or Bust
(Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports)
Connecticut Sun (+350)
This is the year for the Sun, right? Everyone is healthy, Jonquel Jones is the reigning MVP and Courtney Williams is back to provide some needed scoring. This Connecticut team should be even better this season than the one that dominated the 2021 regular season. By way of the Sun’s short title odds (+350) and roster makeup, consider them a “championship or bust” team. No other way around it.
Chicago Sky (+400)
It feels weird to put the Sky in a “championship or bust” tier since they won a title just six months ago. So it’s not like they need to win a championship this year. But looking at the quality of the team and the number of veterans on it, it feels like that’s the goal here. They likely wouldn’t be pleased with anything other than a second championship.
Seattle Storm (+425)
This may be the end of the road for the Seattle Storm as we know them. Sue Bird’s playing days are numbered and Breanna Stewart is on a one-year deal. So, what can we expect from the Big 3 in its possible final chapter?
We are all well aware of the two championships the Storm won with a healthy core of Bird, Stewart and Jewell Loyd (2018, 2020), and the opportunities they’ve missed out on when not healthy. Seattle was good last year but ended their season with Stewie on the sideline nursing an injury. If they’re all healthy again they could add to their championship collection — something they seem to be going all-in for.
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