The 2024 WNBA season will tip off tonight and the opening slate will feature the Phoenix Mercury visiting the Las Vegas Aces at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Las Vegas enters the season as the two-time defending WNBA champions and is embarking on a quest to become the first team to three-peat since the Houston Comets dynasty of the late 1990’s. The Aces set the WNBA single-season wins record with 34 last year as they absolutely dominated opponents with an average point differential of +12.5. They’d basically walk through the postseason by sweeping Chicago and Dallas before downing New York in four games to hoist the WNBA championship trophy. The murderer’s row lineup of A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray will once again take the floor to begin another title defense this season. However, they will be without Candace Parker, who just announced her retirement a few weeks back.
Phoenix is coming off an abysmal 9-31 season last year, missing the postseason for the first time since 2012. WNBA all-time scoring leader Diana Taurasi dealt with injuries throughout the year and the team was unable to find its footing throughout the summer. However, dwarfing the disappointing record was the return of center Brittney Griner, who started 31 games just months after being released from a Russian prison. The team traded Moriah Jefferson in the offseason, but made two huge offseason acquisitions in Natasha Cloud and 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper.
On the injury front, Brittney Griner (toe fracture) will miss tonight’s opener for the Mercury and will be re-evaluated in a few weeks. For the Aces, Chelsea Gray (foot) is questionable.
Las Vegas enters the game as a heavy 16-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, accompanied by a total of 168.5. The Aces are listed as a -1650 moneyline favorite, making the Mercury a +950 underdog.
Mercury vs. Aces, 10 p.m. ET
Pick ATS: Aces -16
It’s ring/banner night for the defending champions and with their main core still in tact, there’s a good chance that they’ll pick right up where they left off. Las Vegas absolutely demolished Seattle 105-64 in last year’s season opener and with Griner sidelined for Phoenix, I think we’re in for another blowout. I’ll take the Aces to cover.
Over/Under: Over 168.5
Even if it does turn into a blowout, this could still be a fun game to watch. Vegas has shown that it can get over 100 points with no sweat and the triad of Diana Taurasi, Kahleah Copper, and Natasha Cloud should generate plenty of points as well. I’ll hammer the over here.