WNBA Restart Opening Day Odds and Picks – July 25th

• Three teams favored to win the WNBA title kick off season in  Florida
• No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu makes much anticipated WNBA debut
• See the odds, our analysis and best bets for opening day for the WNBA below

It’s a great way to kick off the WNBA season.

The defending champion Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm and Los Angeles Sparks — a three-way betting favorite in the 2020 WNBA Championship odds — are showcasing in each of today’s three games.

And if that’s not enough, we’re also getting a glimpse into the future, with superstar-in-waiting Sabrina Ionescu making her much anticipated debut with the new-look New York Liberty.

WNBA Opening Day Odds (July 25)

Odds taken July 24. 

Let’s take a look at all three games, and find you the best bets to make in this shortened 22-game sprint at the IMG Academy “Wubble” in Florida.

Seattle Storm vs New York Liberty

Consider it the ultimate reset, spearheaded by the ultimate prize building block.

The New York Liberty’s rebuilding project is on, thanks to drafting Sabrina Ionescu first overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft — one of seven rookies featured on the Liberty roster this year.

The stud guard filled stat sheets like water in her senior year at Oregon, putting up 17.5 points, 9.1 assists, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals, while efficiently operating on 51.8% shooting from the field and a crisp 39.2% from deep.

She’s the most decorated college player to come in the W, recording an NCAA-record 26 triple doubles, while becoming the first player in to amass a career 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists ever.

What a welcome to the league — having to face the Seattle Storm.

. @sabrina_i20 was 4 years old when @S10Bird played in her first @WNBA game. I can not wait to watch this matchup. pic.twitter.com/uVsDo73jzz

— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) July 23, 2020

Back for Seattle is Breanna Stewart, the 2018 Finals MVP who was out with an Achilles’ injury, along with ageless wonder Sue Bird, who missed 2018 with a knee injury. Plug them into a roster that features 2019 DPOY Natasha Howard, Alysha Clark, and the backcourt of Jordin Canada and Mercedes Russell and that roster looks nice.

Seattle wins, but Ionescu shows her star power from Day 1, and keeps it close.

The pick: Liberty +9.5 (-112)

Los Angeles Sparks vs Phoenix Mercury

For LA, getting swept by the Connecticut Sun and denied a trip to the WNBA Finals was rough, as it included star forward Candace Parker getting benched by head coach Derek Fisher.

"I'm a big communicator… let me know what you want and I'll go out there and produce."

That was part of Candace Parker's answer when I asked her about the state of her relationship with LA Sparks Head Coach Derek Fisher the day before the 2020 season. @Winsidr #Wubble #WNBA

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) July 24, 2020

How they move forward is key, because Parker is part of a three-headed beast with Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray that will try to carry a squad that will miss key contributors in Chiney Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver for health reasons.

.@Candace_Parker stays making big plays 😤

Parker will join tonight’s NBA on TNT show from IMG Academy where she plans to play in the WNBA season. pic.twitter.com/SItq7j3P8M

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) July 7, 2020

The Mercury will feature MVP candidate Brittney Griner, a runner-up last year to Elena Delle Donne (more on her below). She averaged 20.7 points and 7.2 rebounds a game.

Here’s hoping for great health for legend Diana Taurasi, who played just six games last year while battling back and hamstring injuries and new addition Skylar Diggins-Smith can be a third star.

They're baaaaaack!

Pumped for the @WNBA start this weekend & the healthy return of some familiar friends 😉 @DianaTaurasi @S10Bird @breannastewart @angel_35 pic.twitter.com/ulnEY0EZQX

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 25, 2020

In 2018, she averaged 17.9 points and a career-best 6.2 assists. Bria Hartley adds a whole other dimension of speed and playmaking Phoenix desperately needs.

While Griner is the best player on the floor, Parker may be on an early season revenge tip. It’s enough to push LA to a win.

The pick: Sparks ML (-155)

Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics

After winning their first-ever WNBA title a year ago, the Washington Mystics are in disarray.

League MVP Della Donne (19.5 points, 8.2 rebounds per game on 51.5% shooting from the field and 43.0% from three) was denied a medical exemption for this season from the league for Lyme disease. It was an ailment she’d been dealing with for years, and made it public after the WNBA deemed she was healthy to play.

If the NFL treated Patrick Mahomes the way the WNBA is treating Elena Della Donne, Roger Goodell would be fired within a matter of minutes.

— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen) July 16, 2020

And while Washington is keeping the door open for her to return, head coach Mike Thibault said the team was operating like Della Donne was not playing this season.

The bad vibes from this are just a piece of the problem. Their championship-caliber roster has been stripped of key pieces, starting with an offseason trade of Kristi Tolliver. Two players: Natasha Cloud (work on social justice reform) and LaToya Sanders (health concerns) are already out, and a third, Tina Charles, is hoping for a medical exemption as well.

Aerial Powers > the entire Sparks team pic.twitter.com/SWjgpcJZUS

— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 19, 2019

Emma Meesseman will need to move from a starring role on the bench into premier option as a starter. We’ll also see if Ariel Atkins and Aerial Powers can level up, and if Leilani Mitchell can fill the void at point.

As for Indiana, they’re trying to break an ugly postseason drought that’s now three years deep. Perhaps third overall pick Lauren Cox — one of the few stars that didn’t end up drafted by the Liberty — can help turn fortunes.

Teaira McCowan is a straight savage.
Swat & throat slash.
Don't come in her paint. pic.twitter.com/dIHDFoUZZQ

— Robby Donoho III (@RobbyDonoho) February 19, 2018

She averaged 12.5 points and 8.4 rebounds with Baylor in her senior season. She’ll be paired in the frontcourt with Teaira McCowan, who finished her rookie campaign a year ago at 10 points and nine rebounds per contest.

It’s a nice start, and a backcourt rotation featuring Kelsey Mitchell, Erica Wheeler and Tiffany Mitchell is promising, but not enough to go against the champs. Or even what’s left of them.

The pick: Mystics -2.5 (-113)