Las Vegas Aces remain favorites to win WNBA title

Las Vegas Review-Journal

5 years ago

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) shoots over Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne ... — Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) shoots over Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne (11) in the second quarter of the WNBA semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, at Mandalay Bay Events Center, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

FILE – In this March 6, 2020, file photo, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu (20) plays against Utah in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 women’s tournament in Las Vegas. The Associated Press had a panel of WNBA coaches and general managers hold a mock draft. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

FILE – In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu acknowledges the crowd with teammates after an NCAA college basketball game against Texas Southern in Eugene, Ore. Ionescu capped off a unprecedented college career by entering an exclusive club. Oregon’s star guard was a unanimous choice Monday, March 23, 2020, as The Associated Press women’s basketball player of the year. She was only the second player ever to the lone recipient of votes, joining Breanna Stewart, since the award was first given in 1995. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch, FIle)

The WNBA draft didn’t shuffle the futures odds: The Aces remain the favorite.

Las Vegas was +280 to win the title Monday at William Hill, the only local sportsbook that had the odds posted.

The defending champion Washington Mystics are next at +400, followed by the Connecticut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks at +450. The Seattle Storm are +550, and the Phoenix Mercury are +650.

The Aces lost to the Mystics 3-1 in their semifinal series last season. Washington went on to beat the Sun 3-2 for the title.

The draft did nothing to bridge the divide between the top six and bottom six teams in the league — at least for this season.

The New York Liberty landed consensus No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu, a guard from Oregon, and two other first-rounders in Connecticut forward Megan Walker and Louisville guard Jazmine Jones. However, New York still has the third-worst odds to win the title at 60-1.

The Dallas Wings also grabbed three first-rounders — Oregon forward Satou Sabally, Princeton guard/forward Bella Alarie and South Carolina guard Tyasha Harris — but have the second-worst odds at 75-1.

The Chicago Sky are 20-1, the Minnesota Lynx 40-1 and the Indiana Fever 50-1. The Atlanta Dream round out the list at 100-1.

The WNBA said April 3 that the start of the regular season, scheduled for May 15, was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. As with all major sports, no return date for the league has been announced.

Contact Jim Barnes at jbarnes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0277. Follow @JimBarnesLV on Twitter.