WNBA 2025: Championship Odds & Predictions

The 2025 WNBA season is approaching, and a new champion will arise in October!

Photo Credit: Jineen Williams | Ballislife

Women’s sports are on the rise, with the league expanding to 13 teams and the regular season increasing to 44 games. The newest expansion franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, is set to make its inaugural debut.

The New York Liberty are the reigning champions and are coming off an exhilarating finals run against the Minnesota Lynx. Led by Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu—can New York run it back again? They are the favorites among several sportsbooks. It's important to note that Bet MGM highly favors the New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Indiana Fever, and Minnesota Lynx. After that, the books view the remaining teams at +1400 odds and higher.

The explosion of women's sports has included an increased visibility of the league. Teams such as the Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, and Phoenix Mercury have made several moves to bolster their rosters. Selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Dallas Wings will begin a new chapter under Paige Bueckers and company.

Needless to say, now is the time to invest in women's sports and on a betting level! Let’s break down my top five teams most likely to win the 2025 WNBA Championship! Odds aside, I’ve ranked my top five teams and made my prediction for who will take home the championship.

The Aces and Liberty have dominated the last couple of Championships, but will another team arise as 2025 champions? Let's discuss.

2025 WNBA Team Bet MGM Futures & Championship Odds

2025 WNBA Team Championship Predictions

1. New York Liberty: +225

The New York Liberty were early favorites to win a WNBA Championship in 2024, and they did not disappoint bettors. Bringing the first ever WNBA Championship to New York, the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in a highly entertaining Game 5.  I've truly never been so nervous for Breanna Stewart when it came to both those free-throws. Before that, the Liberty defeated the reigning champions Las Vegas Aces in the previous round.

Fresh off the press, the annual WNBA GM survey doesn't have the Liberty to repeat as champions. However, New York was voted as the team that has the best home-court advantage. When I tell you the Barclays Center is rocking, it's rocking!

The Liberty kept a majority of their core that includes Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu. This time, they acquired defensive juggernaut Natasha Cloud in an off-season trade with the Connecticut Sun.  In addition, the Liberty signed Isabelle Harrison, and New York gets the pleasure of having Rebekah Gardner and Marine Johannès back after a year off.

There's no doubt losing Kayla Thornton to the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft will leave a void defensively. Plus, the Liberty announced on Wednesday, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton will miss the entire 2025 season. However, that's where Natasha Cloud and Isabelle Harrison can make up ground. Not to mention, Leonie Fiebich should continue to add much length, defensive, and versatility in her second season with New York.

This year will continue to feature a strong front court that features Stewart, Jones, and Nyrara Sabally. No.1 in rebounding percentage last season, bettors saw Nyara Sabally take an enormous step in the finals. We are talking about a team that far ranked above the rest with a 11.7 net rating.

Finishing a WNBA best 32-8 under head coach Sandy Bronello in 2024, this team is flat out scary. With a league leading point differential of +9.7, the Liberty were the second best offensive team behind the Aces, with 85.6 points per game. Not to mention, they ranked No.1 in offensive rating, and no. 3 in defensive rating. Taking the necessary steps to replace 3&D players should put the Liberty atop of the defensive standings once again.

Led by Sabrina Ionescu, the Liberty attempted the most 3-pointers in the WNBA last year. Not to mention, Ionescu mentioned she's in the best shape of her life. With a championship under her belt, Ionescu has added quite the interior skillset over the last few years.

Final WNBA Championship Best Bet Pick and Prediction: New York Liberty (+225 Bet MGM)

I'm not concerned about the offense. The Liberty have a collection of shooters and will employ more of a five out method this season. Especially with the return of Johannés, who's known for her off-balanced, one-legged 3-pointers. I do believe the addition of Cloud replaces the grit and passion that both Laney-Hamilton and Thornton possessed. Considered one of the most passionate, hard-nosed players, Cloud should immediately upgrade the backcourt. Plus, she has Unrivaled experience playing alongside Ionescu with the Phanton this past season.

• It's hard to repeat as Champions. Everything has to go right, and that includes health. With the Aces the last team to repeat as Champions, I'm taking the Liberty to once again raise banner No. 2 in Brooklyn. Only 20 percent of WNBA GMs believe they can repeat, but I'm going against that. 

2. Las Vegas Aces: +275

The Las Vegas Aces fell short last season of their championship aspirations after conceding to the New York Liberty in the playoffs. Point guard Chelsea Gray wasn't full healthy from the previous season, and the Aces were dealing with other ailments.

This is a team that previously won back-to-back WNBA Championships under head coach Becky Hammon. Don't sleep on the Aces, it all starts with A'ja Wilson, who was awarded MVP last season. With Wilson headed for a possible fourth MVP award, she's only getting better as the years go on.

With the injuries, the Aces finished No.6 with a 27-13 record. As Becky Hammon stated in preseason media interviews, Hammon states she wants the "hungry dawgs." This isn't a team that's satisfied with how they finished last season, and will be out for blood this year. Even though last year didn't live up to standards, the Aces finished No.2 in offensive rating, No.4 in Net Rating (6.5). In addition, Las Vegas led the WNBA in true shooting percentage, and assist/turnover ratio.

The Aces enter this season after an exciting offseason. Kelsey Plum decided to head to the Los Angeles Sparks, noting there's zero "ill will" with the Aces. Needing a fresh start, the Aces will lose a giant piece of their core. That was until the Aces went and traded for veteran star Jewell Loyd.

Loyd, 31, is a two-time WNBA Champion with the Seattle Storm. A Six-time All-Star, Loyd is known for her ability to score a bucket. After all, she's not known as "the Black Mamba" for nothing! Loyd brings much needed championship experience and scoring to replace Plum.

Overall, the roster looks vastly different with the departures of Alysha Clark, Syd Colson, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, and Plum. Even so, the Aces retain their core of A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. With that, Loyd creates a new "core four."

In the offseason, Las Vegas added Dana Evans, Tiffany Mitchell, and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who will be out the first few months due to pregnancy. It's no secret Wilson needs help in the front court, and Megan Gustafson is out indefinitely with a lower leg injury.

It's hard to tell how this roster will gel on paper, however, they look in mid-season form in the preseason. Cruising to preseason victories over the Dallas Wings and Phoenix Mercury, there's no way I can keep the Aces out of my top three.

Plus, the Aces might have hit a home run if 2025 second-round draft pick Aaliyah Nye makes the final roster. Lighting it up from long range, Nye may be the player who replaces Clark. Although it's hard to replace a two-way caliber in Clark, Nye is lethal beyond the arc.

75 percent of WNBA GM's tabbed Chelsea Gray as the league's top passer, and Wilson has the best interior defender and best center. With both players ranking among the top five in several categories among GMs, look for Wilson and Gray to lead the pack.

Final WNBA Championship Best Bet Pick and Prediction: Las Vegas Aces (+275 Bet MGM)

I truly don't believe Wilson has peaked yet, and I expect Jackie Young to take on a larger role this season. Now with Young and Gray fully healthy— a healthy Aces team can be a scary one.  Most important, the Aces won't rush Elizabeth Kitley, who remained out for her rookie season in 2024 with an ACL tear. Her return will provide a boost for the Aces front court off the bench.

Overall, my biggest question is how well Loyd fits in Hammon's system. While I don't envision any issues, we won't know until the start of the season. We are talking about an Aces team that had just one victory in eight games against the Liberty last season! Sure, they lost some key veteran players and voices in the locker room—how much will that affect winning?

• I'm picking the Las Vegas Aces as the second most likely team to win the WNBA Championship in 2025. It will be interesting to see how dynamic this can be when fully healthy. Plus, Hammon will have fresh assistants this year. On paper, they could be headed for their third championship.

3. Minnesota Lynx: +400

The Minnesota Lynx were the runners up last year, and lost a heartbreaking finals to the New York Liberty. Devastated, that loss stung for the Lynx and will remain with them. In a chaotic sequence of events, both Sandy Brondello and Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve expressed their displeasure with the officials.

Bet MGM and most sportsbooks have the Lynx as the fourth favorite at +400 entering the season. With that said, I have them ranked at No.3. In fact, 60 percent of WNBA GM's believe the Minnesota Lynx will win the 2025 WNBA Championship. Included, 50 percent believe there will be another rematch between the Liberty and Lynx in the Finals.

As I've learned in the past and with Unrivaled, I'm never betting against Napheesa Collier. Quickly emerging as one of the best in the league, the former Defensive Player of the Year was selected by WNBA Gm's as the most likely player to win MVP.

Overall, the Lynx are the real deal. Cheryl Reeve is one of the most elite in the game, and now Lindsay Whalen and Eric Thibault are assistants. Talk about an incredible coaching staff.

The Lynx surprised some with a second best record of 30-10 last season. Commissioner Cup Champions over the New York Liberty, the Lynx held a +6.4 point differential. Not to mention, their defense was stifling. Having ranked no.2 in defensive rating, the Lynx were the top team in defending the perimeter. With that, they limited opponents to 30.1 percent from beyond the arc.

It's not a secret the team's offense and defense runs through Collier. For the most part, the Lynx were able to keep most of their core. They did lose Myisha Hines-Allen to the Wings, and Cecilia Zandalasino to the expansion draft. Since, Dorka Juhàz has announced she will forgo the 2025 to rest and recover.

While those are some tough shoes to fill, a healthy Diamond Miller and Jessica Shepard could be the x-factors this season. In addition, French star Marieme Badiane will be electrifying, if she makes the roster. Those additions should bolster the front court alongside Collier alone.

We saw last year that this team has the core players around Collier to make another Championship run. In my opinion, Kayla McBride is one of the most underrated players in the WNBA. Although Unrivaled is a vastly different style of hoops, we saw how well McBride and Collier performed.

Final WNBA Championship Best Bet Pick and Prediction: Minnesota Lynx (+400 Bet MGM)

Bottom line, Cheryl Reeve has everyone bought in, top to bottom. This is a gritty team that's only improved in my opinion. They haven't lost too many players, and the ones added have the ability to get this team over the hump. With that, I expect second year player Alissa Pili to take a step forward.

Not many teams can say they brought back their starting five, plus key role players. Plus, the Lynx proved they were serious when they traded the No. 11 pick (Hailey Van Lith) for Karlie Samuelson.

I'm taking the Lynx as my third favorite team to win the 2025 WNBA Championship at +400 odds. This is a team that I believe will finish in the top three on both sides of the ball. Led by McBride, the Lynx led the WNBA in 3-point percentage (38 %). I have zero doubts the Lynx will continue to show their 3-point prowess this season.

4. Indiana Fever: +300

The Indiana Fever are ranked No. 3 by several sportsbooks, but I have them at No. 4. Drafting Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston in the 2023 and 2024 WNBA Drafts was one of the most iconic moves of all time —and it officially launched the franchise into rebuild mode.

I lost how many times Fever players and coaches used the word "Championship" in a two hour window on media day. After a rough start, the Fever managed to sneak into the playoffs at an even 20-20 record in Clark's season. Although bounced from the playoffs by the Connecticut Sun, Indiana was surprisingly ranked no. 3 in offensive rating.

Led by Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark, this team showed much promise last year. No.1 in effective field goal percentage, Indiana did the unthinkable. They added an enormous around of talent around Clark and Aliyah Boston. In fact, it shocked me a bit.

It was no surprise when former Connecticut Sun head coach Stephanie White dipped to become the next head coach of the Indiana Fever. Considered one of the most brilliant in the game, she has the knowledge to bring this franchise back to championship standards. In fact, Stephanie White was tabbed by NBA GM's as a new or relocated head coach who will have the biggest impact on a team.

Given 50 percent of WNBA general managers voted they would choose to build around Clark, it's easy to see why. She may be known for her long-range deep shots, but her facilitating is elite. Plus, they made a SPLASH in free agency.

Resigning guard Kelsey Mitchell was key, and will continue her dynamic partnership with Clark in the backcourt. In addition, Indiana brought in veterans such as DeWanna Bonner, Sydney Colson, Sophie Cunningham, and Natasha Howard.

Final WNBA Championship Best Bet Pick and Prediction: Indiana Fever (+400 Bet MGM)

The Fever mean business, much sooner than I expected. With that said, they are extremely talented on paper. In the preseason, White was seen experimenting with several lineup variations. Although there's talent, it takes time to develop chemistry. A pure example of this is the 2023 New York Liberty. Forming a core trio of Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu—it took more than one season to achieve a championship.

There's no question the Fever are a top championship contending team, if they can stay healthy. With that, I expect their defense to improve, as they ranked no. 11 in defensive rating last season. Allowing nearly 90 points per game, Howard, Bonner, and Cunningham should certainly improve the defensive side of things. We even saw Lexie Hull take a step forward defensively in Unrivaled.

I fully expect Indiana to win a championship in the next few years, but I have them ranked at No.4 this season at +300 odds. Although they could make a complete run, chemistry and development take time. Everything is new in Indiana, including coach White and her system.

5. Seattle Storm: +3500

The Seattle Storm are in a unique situation. They were facing a total rebuild, yet brought back several veterans in Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams. Not to mention, the Storm may have the steal of the draft after Dominique Malonga No.2 overall out of France.

Last year was a disappointing season for Seattle, who finished 25-15, and got bounced by the Las Vegas Aces in the playoffs. Signing Skylar Diggins and Ogwumike in the off-season wasn't enough for head coach Noelle Quinn.

This was a team that struggled a bit offensively, ranking no. 7 in offensive rating. Despite ranking among the top four in defensive rating, Seattle couldn't get it done. The worst 3-point shooting team in the WNBA (28 %), the Storm shot just 43.5 percent from the field.

The Storm signed major upgrades, bringing in two-way sharp shooter Alysha Clark from the Aces. Now in her second stint, Clark's role will be much more prominent. Not to mention, the team signed veteran Erica Wheeler from the Fever. Losing Katie Lou Samuelson to an ACL tear will be a tough since she was intended to provide much needed scoring from beyond the arc.

Overall, the Storm bolstered the front court with Lexie Brown and Zia Cooke alongside Diggins. With the Malonga pick, do the Storm have the most dominant front court? Aside from the Liberty, the trio of Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor and Malonga is frightening. Not only is Malonga 6'6, she can dunk, and is extremely versatile on both ends of the court.

Although Diggins had a down year, she's in incredible shape, and we saw how well she played in Unrivaled. The x-factor here will most likely be Gabby Williams, who has all-star potential. We are talking about a player who will have full availability deemed healthy. Defensive Player of the Year, Williams might just be the most important player on the roster.

Final WNBA Championship Best Bet Pick and Prediction: Seattle Storm (+3500 Bet MGM)

On paper this team looks solid. I do have questions who will truly run the point, and intrigued to see how Brown performs after fully healed from Crohn's disease.

Overall, Seattle will be a top defensive team, and should improve on the offensive side of things (especially from the 3-point line). Aforementioned, chemistry takes time to build. That's why I have Seattle as fifth option to win a WNBA Championship. Post Jewell Loyd era, the Storm will look vastly different. With that, they will be without Nika Muhl, and Jordan Horston for the season.

The Storm brought in multiple veterans, who have plenty of championship experience.