Read this WNBA betting guide to learn about types of WNBA bets, betting tips, and why you should bet on the WNBA.
Although not as popular as the NBA, there are still loads of fun WNBA betting lines in women’s basketball. There are even some advantages to betting on the WNBA over the NBA.
Don´t miss these valuable WNBA betting opportunities.
Types of WNBA Bets
The betting options for WNBA basketball are the same as the NBA or College Basketball. Here are main WNBA bets, and information on how the betting odds work.
WNBA Point Spreads
WNBA point spreads are the most popular bets. A WNBA spread is where you bet on how many points you think a team will win or lose by.
The favored team has a “-“ value, and the underdogs a “+”. You are betting on a team to beat the spread. You want the victors to win by more than the sportsbook prediction, or alternatively the losers to lose by less points.
In most games, the handicap allows bettors to get odds in the -105 to -110 range on either side.
Example:
Chicago Sky +3.5 (-110)
Las Vegas Aces -3.5 (-110)
For bets on the Sky to win, you need them to either lose by 3 points or less, or win the game. For bets on the Aces to win, you need them to win by 4 points or more.
WNBA Moneylines
WNBA moneyline bets are the simplest wagers. This is a straight bet on who you think will win the game. Betting on a winning favorite (-) will have less returns than betting on a winning underdog (+).
Example:
Dallas Wings -180
Los Angeles Sparks +160
In this example, the Wings are favorites to beat the Sparks.
Based on these odds, you would have to bet $1.80 to win $1 in profit on the Wings. A bet of $1 would result in a $1.60 profit if you bet on the winning Sparks. If you bet on a losing team, you lose your bet!
WNBA Totals (Over/Under)
Totals bets are simple wagers, where you bet on the combined score of both teams during a game.
Example:
Washington Mystics vs New York Liberty (O145/U145)
The sportsbook predicts the total score will be 145 (e.g. a final score of 75-70).
Your job is to determine if the total score is too high or too low. If you think more points will be scored, you bet Over 145. If you think less, then you bet Under 145.
If the score is exactly 145, then the sportsbook will return your bet. Many sportsbooks set the total at a .5 score to prevent this.
WNBA Prop Bets
Proposition bets are some of the more interesting WNBA betting lines. Props cover all wagers on events that occur within a game, rather than the final outcome.
This means prop bets come in all shapes and sizes. Some typical WNBA prop bets might include:
- Which team will be first to score 20 points?
- Over/under on how many points a player will score in a game.
- Will team X score an even or odd number of points in a game?
Odds on props are often higher than other bets because they are much harder to win. Props are generally designed for casual bettors looking for fun.
But if you have in-depth knowledge of historical form and stats, you can still use props betting strategy to increase your chances.
Because the WNBA is far less popular than other national basketball leagues, you won´t find as many props on offer. But they do exist, so keep your eye out.
WNBA Futures
Futures bets are wagers on the eventual outcome of a competition or season.
You might predict, for example, the Eastern & Western Conference Champions, the WNBA Champion, or the season MVP.
Most sportsbooks offer futures well in advance of a season beginning, and cut them off soon after the season has begun. There are lots of contenders at the start of a season and anything can happen over the course of the year. This means you can get good returns on a winning bet.
WNBA Live Betting
Most of the top online sportsbooks now offer live bettting, including live odds on the WNBA.
Live bets allow you to wager on games that have already started. The odds and WNBA betting lines change in real time, depending on the course of the game.
Live bets usually cover the standard spreads, moneylines and totals. You will also find props betting opportunities, such as the number of points in a particular quarter.
Live bets can provide very favorable odds if you stayed tuned and bet at the right moment. For example, a team on a scoring streak might tilt the odds on a WNBA points spread in your favor. The odds and lines can change quick, so you have to be on the ball.
This makes for a very exciting betting experience, with live bets more popular than ever. If you are interested on betting on the WBNA this season, you can head to BetOnline.
How to Bet on the WNBA Online
Betting on the WNBA is easy, with just a few simple steps:
- Find a WNBA sportsbook – Our top recommendations are a great place to start. Make sure the site has the WNBA betting lines you want to wager on and allows your preferred payment method.
- Sign Up – Simply click the “Join Now” button, fill in your details and choose a password. You then verify your account via email.
- Deposit Your Cash – This should only take 5-10 minutes. Make sure you check out any sportsbook bonuses that you can benefit from, particularly welcome bonuses.
- Find Your Odds and Lines – Click on the wagers you want to make and choose how much money to put down.
- Await the Results – Either watch the game, or carry on with your day. Any winning bets will see the funds automatically transferred to your account.
WNBA Betting Tips
There are many sports betting strategies you can use to help you make smart WNBA picks. You can also use sports betting math to help you turn picks into real money.
Here are a couple of WNBA betting tips specific to women’s basketball.
Chase WNBA Line Movements
The lower popularity of WNBA betting means it is preferable to chase WNBA line movements.
In more popular sports, line movements are caused by lots of people betting on a particular choice. But these movements can often be informed by matters of the heart, like team loyalty, rather than the head. Popular line movements can represent bad bets!
WNBA line movements, however, are more likely to informed by a smaller number of committed and knowledgeable bettors. If you see a WNBA line move, it’s probably a smart bet.
Take Advantage of Favorable Sportsbook Odds
Because of the WNBA’s comparatively low profile, sportsbooks do not prioritize WNBA betting odds and lines. For this reason, unusually favorable odds are more likely to slip under the sportsbook radar.
These mistakes are not common, but you should be ready to pounce when you see them. Leave it too late, and the sportsbook will notice their mistake and fix their lines.
Best WNBA Basketball Betting Site in 2023
Betting on the WNBA vs Betting on the NBA
The popularity of WNBA pales in comparison to the NBA. But that doesn´t mean there aren´t some unique benefits to WNBA betting. Here are the main differences:
- Changing Odds: The NBAs popularity means odds and lines are constantly shifting. WNBA betting lines are more stable. This makes it easier to find the best value odds before the lines shift.
- Number of Games: There are 82 NBA games played by each team in a season, as opposed to just 36 for the WNBA. This means there are more betting opportunities in the NBA. But it also means it’s easier to keep track of your favorite WNBA team throughout the season.
- Sportsbook Priorities: The high number of NBA bettors meansthe NBA is a key focus of sportsbooks, with more NBA props and lines. But it also means NBA lines are informed by strong statistical analysis and sportsbook mistakes are uncommon. WNBA is a low sportsbook priority, meaning sportsbook are more likely to slip up andgive you great-value WNBA odds.
WNBA Betting FAQs
In many cases, yes.
Since 2018, US states have been scrambling over each other to introduce sportsbook legislation. There are now many states which have specifically regulated online sports betting. The best WNBA sportsbooks accept registrations from players in most, if not all, US states.
As always, check the laws of your local jurisdiction before gambling.
Yes. Of course, there are no guaranteed wins, or else it wouldn’t be gambling. But if you make smart picks, you can win a lot of cash. The WNBA provides some unique betting opportunities that you won´t find in more popular sports.
All of our top recommended WNBA sportsbooks have great WNBA betting lines.
Yes! Most of the best WNBA sportsbooks have live betting features with WNBA games on offer.
Like other forms of basketball, WNBA point spreads remain the most popular betting line. Moneylines and totals are the next most popular forms of betting.
Futures and props are also available in the WNBA.
Yes. Among WNBA bettors moneylines are one of the most popular wagers.