2020 WNBA Playoffs Second Round Odds and Picks
By Quinn Allen in WNBA
Updated: March 5, 2021 at 10:08 am ESTPublished:
- The second round of the WNBA Playoffs is set after both Phoenix and Connecticut won on Tuesday night
- Thursday’s second round is also single elimination, as the Mercury will take on Lynx on while the Sun will face the Los Angeles Sparks
- Get the odds, preview, and best bet for the second round below
The second round of the WNBA Playoffs is scheduled for Thursday night, with two intriguing matchups set to take place.
The Phoenix Mercury beat the Washington Mystics 85-84 behind Skylar Diggins-Smith’s 24-point game in the first round on Tuesday, while the Connecticut Sun handled the Chicago Sky in convincing fashion, beating them 94-81.
With these two wins, Phoenix and Connecticut will feature in the second round against Minnesota and LA in another single-elimination game with a berth in the semifinals on the line.
WNBA Playoffs Second Round Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | +2.5 (-105) | +126 | O 164.5 (-110) |
| Minnesota Lynx | -2.5 (-115) | -154 | U 164.5 (-110) |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points at |
| Connecticut Sun | +4.5 (-105) | +168 | O 160.5 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Sparks | -4.5 (-115) | -210 | U 160.5 (-110) |
Odds taken September 17th
Lynx Will End Mercury’s Run
Despite finishing fifth in the Western Conference in the bubble at 13-9, the Phoenix Mercury find themselves in prime position to advance to the WNBA Semifinals, where they would play the #1 seed Las Vegas Aces.
They grinded out an 85-84 victory against Washington on Tuesday night, thanks to Shey Peddy’s buzzer-beater to send her former team home packing. Phoenix trailed by eleven heading into the final quarter, but a 17-0 run helped them get back into the game before Peddy won it. Phoenix is also fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball, sitting fifth in the league in offensive and defensive rating.
What a finish 🔥
The @PhoenixMercury made BIG plays down the stretch to secure the victory and advance to the 2nd Round of the #ATTPlayoffs! pic.twitter.com/zvF7whs3A5
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 16, 2020
Minnesota finished just above the Mercury in the West, with a 14-8 record in Bradenton. They earned a bye into the second round, awaiting their opponent, who will be Phoenix.
Crystal Dangerfield and Napheesa Collier have been instrumental for the Lynx, averaging 16.2 and 16.1 points per night, respectively. Dangerfield is a serious candidate for rookie of the year after enjoying an impressive first season in the WNBA, despite being the 16th overall pick back in April.
This Minnesota team is an offensive powerhouse, currently ranking 3rd in the league with a 108.4 offensive rating. They also shoot the ball well from downtown, compiling a 38.5% clip from three-point range.
In the bubble, these two each won a game against each other. But in this decisive matchup, I’m giving Minnesota the advantage. They have four players who are scoring in double digits this year, while veteran Sylvia Fowles – who’s only played seven games due to a calf injury – could return to the lineup in time for Thursday’s contest. I expect it to be a close game, but I believe the Lynx will advance to the semifinals to face Las Vegas.
Pick: Minnesota ML (-154)
Rolling With the Sparks
LA was one of the best teams in the bubble, going 15-7 and locking up the three seed in the postseason.
They’re a team that shoot the ball extremely well, sitting in the top five in field goal and three-point percentage. On both ends of the hardwood, the Sparks are also solid, ranking fifth and third in offensive and defensive rating, respectively.
They have three veterans who were apart of their squad who won the 2016 WNBA Finals. Candace Parker, Chelsea Gray, and Nneka Ogwumike. All three are important parts to their success now as well, averaging around 14 points per game.
Los Angeles is a team that receives contributions from their entire lineup, with five different players averaging 10 or more points this season.
𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.#GoSparks | #LeadTheCharge pic.twitter.com/WEwQPfxUD0
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) September 16, 2020
Although Connecticut went 10-12 in the bubble, they found themselves in a first-round clash with the Chicago Sky. The Sun took care of business, beating Chicago 94-81.
Alyssa Thomas led the way with 26 points, 13 boards, and eight assists, while DeWanna Bonner also dropped 23 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Connecticut really took a handle on this game in the third quarter, outscoring the Sky 27-11 which helped lead them to a crucial victory.
The Sparks beat Connecticut both times they faced them in the bubble and I expect this contest on Thursday to follow a similar storyline. With veterans like Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray leading the way, I expect LA to advance to the semis, where they will face a very strong Seattle Storm team. Their experience will come in handy in the second round, beating the Sun by a convincing margin.
Pick: Los Angeles -4.5 (-115)
Sports Writer
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
