”It was the best of times…”
When the 2022 Champion Las Vegas Aces signed multiple MVP winner Candace Parker to an already stacked lineup they quickly became the favorites for the 2023 WNBA season.
To that end the New York Liberty said, “Hold my beer.”
After trading for 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones, the Libs then went and signed 2018 MVP and Syracuse’s own Breanna Stewart. With the moves (including the addition of all-star point guard Courtney Vandersloot), the Liberty have now vaulted from also-rans to championship contender.
How dominant are WNBA some teams? The Aces won at a sizzling .722 clip last season and the Liberty are expected to dominate at much the same level. Both teams have tremendous home court advantages and look to sell out games at home and on the road.
What is the result for the rest of the league’s 10 other teams? Solid foundational franchises like the Seattle, Connecticut and Chicago have gaping holes to fill. Dallas, Atlanta and LA look to be moving on and up from 2021.
2023 opens with plenty of question marks and what ifs. Will Mercury-player Brittany Griner play and fly commercially? What will the total re-builds in Chicago and Connecticut look like and what it the timeline? Will the league sanction the Aces for tampering?
For sports bettors we need to look beyond the headlines and fully examine to the next tier of quality teams. I attempt to identify playoff caliber squads that can hold their own against each other and dominate over the weakest members of the league.
The league has a number of of “have nots” whom offer great opportunities to fade over the entire five month season. In 2022 the Indiana Fever were so sickly that they played at a .139 clip (5-31). If you had gotten bored fading them how about the LA Sparks and their 13-23 embarrassment of a record?
Successful bettors find these opportunities early in the season and ride the wave through repeatable, long-tailed plays. With that in mind I offer my early February, pre-season power rankings of the 12 team league.
ALL ODDS PROVIDED BY BETFRED COLORADO
1) New York Liberty (+140)
The teaming of Jones and Stewart in the front court can not be overstated. Moving guard Sabrina Ionescu off the ball should also pay scoring dividends here with Vandersloot. Last year Sandy Brondello set the stage for an improving Liberty team to make a big jump forward in 2023.
2)Las Vegas Aces (+135)
The champs are making changes to their 2023 Championship roster. The splashy signing of Candace Parker masks what was a something of a disappointing season on-the-court for Parker. The backcourt of Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray is number one in my modeling. But did they or didn’t they tamper with free agents?
3)Washington Mystics (+1200)
Several big steps forward in 2022 gives this team some momentum heading into 2023. defensive stopper Brittney Sykes joins the leagues best defensive team in 2021.In addition the Mystics signed guard Kristi Toliver as a free agent. This team looks to be very strong defensively and ranks #1 in my current model.
4)Los Angelas Spark (+5000)
Admittedly I am a fan of new coach Kurt Miller. Love what he did in his six years with the Sun despite his lack of championships. Championship team? Not so much. But it is a team that could go on the road and win at your house. Miller gets Erica Hamby with a chip on her shoulder and an under-rated, under-utilized Azura Stevens. The Sparks were a mess last year (bye,bye Asssie Liz Cambage). Put a line through last season and let’s see what Coach Miller’s team toughness can do here.
5)Phoenix Mecury(+1800)
Signing Sophie Cunningham was a positive move for this team in transition. Not sure what Brittany Griner’s comeback year looks like but she is still a dominant player. Is Diana Taurasi coming back? The could pieces make this a competitive team. The fit remains to be seen. I am drawing a line through last season and watching closely here..
6)Dallas Wings (+3000)
With Marina Mabrey and Teaira McCowan still unsigned at press time I am taking a leap of faith here and looking for a positive turn. Natasha Howard is a nice addition and the Wings Arike Ogunbowale is one of the league’s most exciting players to watch.
7)Chicago Sky (+3000)
Oh how the mighty have fallen. James Wade is a terrific coach which should help as a major reset takes place here. Chicago will need to be monitored early as fade opportunity. but never count James Wade and this franchise completely out.
8)Conneticut Sun (+3000)
The Sun welcome new coach Stephanie White. She still has Brionna Jones and Natisha Hiedeman from last year’s core. This is a team in obvious transition. I am going to focus on whether their tremendous home court edge begins to erode.
9)Seattle Storm (+3000)
See #8 Conneticut Sun . Stewie and Bird out the door. Questions should be answered in first few games.
10)Atlanta Dream (+3500)
The Dream franchise was a mess but improved statistically over the last 10 games of 2023. Adding Alisha Gray helps Rhyne Howard and the offense. TBD here.
11)Minnesota Lynx (+3500)
Not much to see here, possible season-long fade. Signed Tiffany Mitchell from the Fever.
12)Indiana Fever (+8000)
See #11 Minnesota Lynx. The good news is they look to get 6-foot-5 Aliyah Boston has the first pick in the April 10th draft.
