May 18th WNBA Odds and Picks – Lynx vs Liberty, Mercury vs Mystics and Aces vs Storm
- Tuesday, May 18th will feature a trio of games in the WNBA airing on ESPN networks
- All three games feature playoff teams from a season ago, also featuring teams who will contend for a championship in 2021
- See below for the latest odds, analysis and the best bet for May 18th
Opening weekend in the WNBA last weekend kicked off an already entertaining season around the league. Entering a new week in the 32-game schedule, the upcoming week will once again consist of intriguing contests of teams who are viewed as favorites to win a WNBA Championship in 2021.
That starts with trio of games will tip off on Tuesday, May 18th on ESPN networks, with all games including at least one playoff team from a season ago.
The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty face off on ESPN3, followed by an ESPN2 doubleheader featuring the Phoenix Mercury against the Washington Mystics and the Las Vegas Aces against the Seattle Storm.
May 18th WNBA Odds
| Team | Spread at FanDuel | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Lynx | -2.5 (-110) | -148 | Over 154.5 (-110) |
| New York Liberty | +2.5 (-110) | +120 | Under 154.5 (-110) |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Phoenix Mercury | -2.5 (-118) | -158 | Over 162.5 (-110) |
| Washington Mystics | +2.5 (-104) | +128 | Under 162.5 (-110) |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Las Vegas Aces | -1.5 (-105) | -118 | Over 168.5 (-110) |
| Seattle Storm | +1.5 (-115) | -104 | Under 168.5 (-110) |
Odds as of May 18th
Lynx Look to Hand Liberty First Loss
Minnesota, featuring a new-look lineup with a trio of offseason additions, has been a work in progress thus far as the roster gets acclimated with each other.
New York has shown improvement with Sabrina Ionescu back from a season-ending injury and Betnijah Laney playing well, while continuing to await the arrival of offseason addition Natasha Howard. These are two teams who are still trying to improve early in the year and should make this game an entertaining one to begin the night.
Mercury vs Mystics a Battle of the Stars
The second game of the night features a battle between two likely playoffs teams when Phoenix (1-1 overall) faces Washington (0-1 overall) at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Elena Delle Donne, Tina Charles and Natasha Cloud all returned to action last weekend for Washington after opting out of the 2020 season. With those additions back into the fold to go along with Myisha Hines-Allen, the Mystics could be a team to watch to return to the postseason and make it farther than they did last year.
Phoenix features the trio of Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brittney Griner, all three of which rank near the top in the WNBA in scoring. That group, along with Brianna Turner and bench depth, makes the Mercury a team that can hurt you from multiple areas.
If Washington is able to take away Phoenix’s inside game, expect Taurasi and Diggins-Smith to take over from the perimeter in what will be a highly competitive and fun game.
Aces vs Storm Rematch
Rounding out the night, Las Vegas and Seattle will battle in Seattle after opening the season against each other last Saturday, with the rematch starting at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2. In a rematch of the 2020 WNBA Finals, the Storm came away on top of the Aces once again in the opener, winning that game 97-83.
After an offseason that saw key departures for Seattle, many questioned whether it could make a serious comeback to repeat as WNBA champions in 2021. Led by the trio of Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, the Storm answered those questions in the opener by taking down the Aces. Seattle has shown depth and a balanced attack early on, which makes it a dangerous team to face at the early stages of the season.
The Aces continue to be lead by the interior duo of A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage, who combined for 40 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s loss. That duo will be key to watch for as Las Vegas tries to grab its first win of the season. This nightcap will likely be a high-scoring one and will be a matter of who can get enough stops defensively to come out on top.
Best Bet on the Board
As far as the best bet on the board, the Minnesota at New York game stands out. The Lynx didn’t play well in their season-opening loss, yet still put themselves in a position to win. With the team continuing to gel together, the Lynx are likely to take another step up in game two on Tuesday. And New York missing a key piece in Howard continues to be big for the Liberty.
New York is a much improved team and this should be a close game, as the spread reflects, but Minnesota should be able to take the game by more than 2.5 points, making this the best bet of the night.
The pick: Lynx -2.5 (112)
Mitchell has a decade of experience in journalism, marketing, communications and digital fields, having covered sports teams and leagues on all levels. He has spent more than seven years covering the WNBA and NBA, among other sports. You can follow him on Twitter @M_Hansen13.
