Round one is in the books in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs — and we’re on to the semifinals. Two best-of-five series will determine who goes to the WNBA Finals now. You’ll want to keep reading this for expert picks to win each WNBA Playoff semifinals matchup!
Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm Series Pick
What an absolute juicy matchup we have here. Unlike the other semifinals series, this one was earmarked right away as both Vegas and Seattle swept their first-round opponents. Here’s the current WNBA betting odds to win the Aces vs. Storm series and advance on:
| Team |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Aces | -250 | -250 |
| Seattle Storm | +210 | +210 |
Who remembers when these two teams ended the regular season against each other? The Aces gutted out a 109-100 victory to notch the number-one seed overall and home-court advantage throughout — which could pay dividends here. Las Vegas won the regular-season series 2-1, which helps explain why oddsmakers have them as favorites.
The one-on-one matchup that everyone’s eyes will be on is between two top MVP contenders — A'ja Wilson (Aces) and Breanna Stewart (Storm). Wilson finished the season averaging 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks — ranking top-five in all three statistical categories (the only WNBA player to do so). Stewart, on the other hand, won the first scoring title of her career by putting up a 21.8-point average. Her shooting splits were a whopping 47.2/37.9/83.7. Both players are expected to guard one another.
Whichever MVP can outplay the other could very well swing who wins the series. But another factor? Which team shoots more hot? Each is prone to living and dying from the three-point line. Last time out, Las Vegas set a new WNBA record for most 3s (23) made in a single game. Over the whole season, both teams were identical from behind the arc — shooting a league-high 36.1 percent.
We predict the Storm will do a better job at suppressing the Aces three-point shooting. Why? Welp, because no one in the WNBA defended the three-ball better than Seattle, who allowed opponents to connect just 32 percent of the time (by comparison, Vegas allowed just under 36 percent). That could be the series’ X-factor and if so, the Storm are worth an underdog bet.
Seattle, when at full capacity, remains the most consistent team in the WNBA. Its vaunted big three of Stewart, Jewell Loyd and the soon-to-be-retiring Sue Bird — when healthy — have not lost a series together since 2017. The trio have won championships in 2018 and 2020, and heck, we believe 2022 will end in another. Bank on the Storm to advance here!
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun Series Pick
This series is a rematch of last year’s semi-finals — a matchup that was won by the eventual WNBA champions, the Sky. The reigning title-holders (who also hold home-court advantage) are favored here over Connecticut ever so slightly. Here’s the current betting lines:
| Team | | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Sky | -135 | -135 |
| Connecticut Sun | +115 | +115 |
Both teams needed to win road meetings in Game 3 to set-up this rematch between No. 2 and No. 3. The team had almost identical records in the regular season — 26-10 for the Sky and 25-12 for the Sun. Despite the similarities, we can’t help but think Chicago flat-out has Connecticut’s number.
Get this, the Sky won ALL four regular-season meetings against the Sun this year. Admittedly, three of those games were uber close — one decided by four points and the other by three apiece. But hey wins are wins, and even going back to the postseason matchup in 2021, Chicago won the series convincingly 3-1 despite being the less-seeded team.
Not only does the Sky have the one-on-one advantage but it has to be said: the Sun have been underachievers the past three seasons. One ended in a Finals defeat, the other two in this very round. Last year, before bowing out to Chicago, Connecticut had the number one seed, earned by a league-best 26-6 mark. Can bettors really trust them to “get over the proverbial hump?”
You can probably guess what direction we’re betting here and that’s on the Sky to advance. Chicago’s leader Candace Parker has teased her retirement and that’s keying Chicago right now. The WNBA Finals might just end up being Bird vs. Parker with only one getting a swan song for the ages.
How To Bet On 2022 WNBA Playoffs?
The two series bets we covered above aren’t the only ways to bet on the 2022 WNBA Playoffs. Of course, you can also bet on the individual games through spreads, over/unders, props, and more. In fact, these game bets are the better betting strategy to really stack up wagering wins. To get a full list of WNBA playoff bets, head to one of the underneath bookmakers.
One last thing before we let you go: these bookies are offering killer promotional bonuses to bettors right now — deals that range from $500 to $2500 in free play. Earned money can be spent as you wish on WNBA so it’s a perfect option to increase your betting bankroll. The table below details what offers are available at what sites. Smash one of the “play now” buttons to get started!
Online Sports Betting © 2024