Five WNBA Betting Trends You Need to Know

The WNBA is one of the best leagues to study closely in hopes of finding strong betting value.

As a league that has been operational since 1997, you have a distinct set of data from three decades of competition. Researching player and team performance from past years and looking for patterns is one of the best ways to beat the sportsbooks, and the WNBA has great stats to work with.

We’ve gone ahead and done some of the work for you with this list of five must-know WNBA betting trends. To help narrow things down, the focus is mainly on WNBA championship teams and players, so these trends are great for futures betting! For a more basic strategy, check out our How to Bet on WNBA games guide.

Now, these trends aren’t guarantees of any kind. They might be useful if you’re on the fence about making a particular wager and you’re looking for more information. If nothing else, these patterns will capture your attention, and they might be things to look for if you’re also wagering on other sports.

For now, here are five WNBA betting trends you should know!

1) The Championship Runner-Up Rarely Wins the Next Year

In 30 years of competition, only five WNBA teams who finished as a championship runner-up have gone on to win it all the next year:

• Detroit Shock (2007, 2008)
• Minnesota Lynx (2012, 2013 and 2016, 2017)
• Washington Mystics (2018, 2019)
• New York Liberty (2023, 2024)

In total, only 16% of teams finishing as the runner up have gone on to win the WNBA championship the next year!

Although, it tends to happen every five-ish years (2008, 2013, 2019, 2024), so keep that in mind as the 2029 season approaches.

2) Parity Has Hit the League … Outside of the Aces

Since 2021, the WNBA champion has been either a first-time winner, or the Las Vegas Aces. And one of those three Aces championships (2022) was the first for their franchise.

Chicago won its first title in 2021, the Aces followed with their first in 2022, the New York Liberty won their first in 2024, and either the Golden State Valkyries or Atlanta Dream will win their first in 2026.

The Valkyries were in their second year of existence in 2026, and with young superstars continuing to make an immediate impact, the pool of teams that are capable of winning it all has grown significantly, even if the Aces are still an ever-present danger.

3) Nine of the Last 10 Champs Were a Top 2 Seed

If you’re looking for a quick and easy trend that is backed up by some solid data, then this is the one for you.

Nine of the last 10 WNBA champions entered the postseason as either a No. 1 or 2 seed. The one exception came in 2021, when the Chicago Sky entered the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.

In five of the last 10 years, the Finals matchup has been between the No. 1 and 2 seed.

4) Seven of the Last 10 Champs Are Western Conference Teams

A team’s performance in the regular season can be easily scrutinized based on the level of competition they face.

If you’re on a successful team in a conference with weaker competition, you might be in for a rude awakening when you go to face a team that has been cutting their teeth against serious competitors for an entire season.

Of the past 10 WNBA seasons, the Western Conference has been dominant, winning seven of the available championships.

The only two Eastern Conference teams to win a WNBA championship in the past 10 years are the Washington Mystics (2019), Chicago Sky (2021) and the New York Liberty (2024).

So, based on trends three and four, a Western Conference team that emerges with the best regular season record could be a great team to wager on.

5) A’Ja Wilson has Blown Up All MVP Title Trends

Basketball is widely considered to be a sport dominated by superstars. Just one great player can control the court with the ball in their hands, and ultimately alter the course for an entire franchise.

However, since 2020, the winner of the WNBA MVP has won the title just twice, and both times it was A’Ja Wilson.

Prior to Wilson winning the MVP in 2020, four straight title teams included the MVP. That was her first of five MVP wins in seven years, and the Aces would go onto win it all in 2022 and 2025. But even in the two years she did not win the league’s top individual honor (2021 and 2023), the MVP did not become a champion.

Sure, basketball might be a sport dominated by individuals, but the WNBA is proving that it isn’t everything. Check out our full guide on WNBA MVP betting for a full breakdown of wagering on odds, futures, and more.

Get Locked in with More Betting Trends

Looking for more ways to get closer to the action in your favorite sports? We’re here to give you everything you need to bet with confidence.

Our other trends guides include 5 Betting Trends for NHL and UFC Betting Trends, for example, will give you similar insights into how you can use these patterns to inform your wagering strategy.

Otherwise, we have a ton of guides in our “How to Bet on Sports” section that can get you up to speed in the world of wagering. Legal sports betting is sweeping across the nation, and you won’t want to miss a second of the action!