The 2024 WNBA Finals kick off Thursday at Barclays Center as the New York Liberty face off against the Minnesota Lynx at 7 p.m. ET. The Liberty, who dominated the regular season with a stellar 32-8 record, enter the matchup as significant favorites, with odds set at -260 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
New York is determined to secure its first championship title in franchise history after falling short in last year’s Finals against the Las Vegas Aces. “This is a new season,” said Liberty coach Sandy Brondello. “We have to bring our best, and hopefully, that’s enough.”
The Liberty will be looking to capitalize on having home-court advantage as they take the court for Game 1. Meanwhile, the Lynx, listed as +215 underdogs, are on a mission to capture a fifth championship title, their first since 2017. They reached the Finals after a dramatic victory over the Connecticut Sun, winning Game 5 of the semifinals 88-77.
Napheesa Collier has been the exception, leading the playoffs in scoring with an impressive average of 27.1 points per game. “This isn’t just about making it to the Finals; we want to win,” Collier emphasized after their semifinal victory. “We’ve worked too hard and built great chemistry to settle for anything less.”
This has all the makings of a compelling matchup. Let’s look at the odds released by DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals:
Game 1 Odds
Spread
Minnesota Lynx +6 (-110)
New York Liberty -6 (-110)
Total Points
Over 159 (-108)
Under 159 (-112)
Moneyline
Minnesota Lynx +210
New York Liberty -258
These odds reflect the Liberty’s dominance throughout the season, as they are considered six-point favorites against a team as talented as the Lynx. However, Minnesota’s regular season history against New York with multiple victories this season, including a victory in the Commissioner’s Cup championship, shouldn’t be overlooked. Bettors may find value in the spread, considering Minnesota’s past successes against New York. However, it’s hard to overlook just how effective the Liberty has been throughout this season.
Player Props for Game 1
Breanna Stewart
Points: O 20.5 (-120) / U 20.5 (-110)
Threes: O 1.5 (+100) / U 1.5 (-135)
Rebounds: O 9.5 (-125) / U 9.5 (-105)
Assists: O 3.5 (-105) / U 3.5 (-125)
Breanna Stewart enters the Finals with a lot of clicking for the Liberty, boasting impressive playoff averages of 20.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Her exceptional performance at home has been a standout feature of her game; in four playoff games at Barclays Center, she has averaged 20.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 0.8 three-pointers made while shooting 45.5% from the field. During the regular season against the Lynx, Stewart led all players with averages of 25.0 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
Stewart understands the importance of bringing her best to the court, stating, “We have to bring our best, and hopefully that’s enough.” With her points prop set at 20.5, expectations are high for her to be the Liberty’s leading scorer. Her ability to perform under pressure will be vital for New York’s quest for their first championship title in franchise history. Minnesota’s elite defense will do what it can to make it difficult for Stewart. It’ll be up to her to transcend aggressive defensive coverages.
Napheesa Collier
Points: O 20.5 (-120) / U 20.5 (-110)
Rebounds: O 9.5 (-120) / U 9.5 (-110)
Assists: O 3.5 (+105) / U 3.5 (-135)
Napheesa Collier has emerged as a dominant force for the Lynx, leading all playoff scorers with an impressive average of 27.1 points while adding 9.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. On the road, her numbers are equally compelling, as she has averaged 27.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, shooting 58.8% from the field. With how she’s played overall, there is reason to believe she’ll improve her scoring production while maintaining her all-around game against the Liberty after she averaged only 16.0 points, but still contributed 11.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game against them in the regular season.
Reflecting on her team’s journey, Collier remarked, “It makes you want to win for them, too. It’s not just like you want to get the accolade of winning a championship. You want to do it for your teammates as well.” With her points prop set at 20.5, Collier’s ability to score inside will be challenged against the Liberty’s strong frontcourt anchored by Jonquel Jones
Sabrina Ionescu
Points: O 17.5 (-110) / U 17.5 (-120)
Threes: O 2.5 (-140) / U 2.5 (+100)
Assists: O 5.5 (-115) / U 5.5 (-115)
Sabrina Ionescu has elevated her game in the postseason for the Liberty, averaging 20.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists during this run. Notably, in her four home playoff games, she has averaged 24.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.5 three-pointers made, shooting 42.4% from beyond the arc. Despite facing struggles against Minnesota during the regular season—where she scored 14.3 points per game and shot just 17.9% on three-point attempts—Ionescu’s shotmaking and playmaking ability will be pivotal in Game 1.
As she explained confidently, “We’re the best team in the league, and no one can beat us” when discussing her team’s mindset coming off last year’s Finals loss. Her points prop is set at 17.5, and if she can improve her shooting efficiency, Ionescu has the potential to be a game-changer in this series. If Stewart commands the brunt of the game-planning focus, Ionescu must make the defense pay to keep them honest.
Don’t Miss Out on DraftKings Sportsbook
As Game 1 of the WNBA Finals approaches, the stakes are high for both the Liberty and Lynx. With the Liberty favored to win their first championship title and the Lynx eager to achieve a long-awaited title run, an electrifying matchup is in store. The odds set by DraftKings Sportsbook highlight how competitive this series can shape up to be, and bettors will have no shortage of intriguing opportunities to get in on the action.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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