In 2024, the WNBA experienced its highest viewership in 24 years, with more than 54 million viewers tuning in to games during the season – a 170% increase over 2023.
There’s no doubt the league has Caitlin Clark, out of Iowa, to thank for that. Essentially a female Steph Curry, her explosion in the WNBA led to newfound interest in the sport.
If people are watching, people are betting. WNBA spreads operate the same way as NBA point spreads, with success hinging on understanding the teams and players. And with the 2025 WNBA playoffs set to begin on September 14, this WNBA Betting Guide will break down the key trends and highlights from the season so far.
View the latest WNBA odds at Bovada
WNBA Playoff Info
- WNBA Playoffs begin on September 14, 2025.
- Eight teams qualify for the postseason, regardless of conference.
- Teams are seeded one through eight based on regular-season record.
- Standard tiebreakers (head-to-head, point differential, etc.) apply if records are tied.
- First round is best-of-three and is a standard seeded bracket format (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, etc.)
- Matchups are bracketed after that; there is no reseeding.
- Semifinals and Finals are best of five.
The Minnesota Lynx are Dominant
The Lynx sit on top of the WNBA with a 32-8 record and are tied with Atlanta for the best record against the spread (ATS) at 24-15-1. The team is led by seven-year pro Napheesa Collier, who has elevated her game to MVP proportions with career highs in points (23.5) and field-goal percentage (53.4%). Amidst all the talk about Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, Collier is running away 2025 WNBA MVP odds at -1000.
But the Lynx aren’t just about Collier. Minnesota has great depth at guard and on the wings, allowing them to hit shots from outside consistently. Their defense is elite, ranking second in points against, and they boast a league-leading +10.2 point differential – nearly four points ahead of second-place Atlanta. They’re led by veteran head coach Cheryl Reeve, who has been with Minnesota for 15 years, winning four league championships.
2024 was a return to form for Minnesota as they reached the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017, losing to the New York Liberty in a series-deciding Game 5. 2025 is proving that they have the squad to make a return appearance. The Lynx lead WNBA Championship Odds at +225.
WNBA Betting Trends
Digging into the 2025 WNBA betting trends, you’ll find that with just 13 teams (six in the Eastern Conference and seven in the Western Conference), they have more parity than the NFL.
Let’s begin with the spread. Surprisingly, road teams have performed slightly better against the number, covering 50.6% of the time compared to 49.4% for home teams. Underdogs have also had the edge overall, posting a 136-125-4 ATS record. That advantage holds both as road underdogs (52.3% win rate) and home underdogs (51.9% win rate).
The favorites in the league are primarily driven by Atlanta, Minnesota, and Golden State, combining for a 74-44-3 ATS record – a 62.7% win rate.
In terms of the playoffs, the overall ATS record in 2024 was 21-21-3. The only team with a positive record was the Lynx, who went 9-4 ATS during the postseason.
Where is Caitlin Clark?
Just when the WNBA was about to explode with Caitlin Clark as its must-see star, the Indiana Fever guard disappeared. Clark has dealt with multiple injuries this season, most notably a groin strain suffered on July 15. She also sustained a bone bruise in her left ankle in August and a quadriceps strain earlier in the year. The Fever have managed to stay afloat with a 21-20 record; therefore, a playoff return is possible for Clark. However, former WNBA star Lisa Leslie has advised that the Fever should shut her down for the remainder of the season.
As of September 4, Clark remains out indefinitely with no official return date set.
Paige Bueckers: The Next Caitlin Clark?
If you’re itching for an elite new star with Clark currently on the sidelines, rookie Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is storming the league in a similar way. She’s averaging 18.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, very close to the 19 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists Clark posted during her rookie season. She’s been consistent all year, with more consistent mid-range scoring and better defense. The problem is, her team is much, much worse.
While Clark was able to push the Fever to the playoffs in her first year, Bueckers has no shot with the 9-32 Wings. If Bueckers doesn’t dominate offensively, the Wings are not competing. They’re 10-3 ATS when Bueckers scores 20 points or more. She’s all but guaranteed rookie of the year honors. But good luck finding odds to bet on the award at this point in the season.