The 2021 WNBA season came to a close on October 17. On that day, the Chicago Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury by the score of 80-74 to win the WNBA championship. With the win, Chicago, who has been a part of the WNBA for 16 seasons, took home its first WNBA crown, beating Phoenix three games to one. The Mercury, who has three WNBA titles to its name (2007, 2009 and 2014), finished in the runner-up spot for the second time. The Mercury was one of eight teams to play during the WNBA’s first season in 1997.
The 2022 WNBA season began on May 6, 2022. With that, it’s time to look at the teams that will be in the mix to win the 2022 WNBA title.
Before we get our first look at the teams who will compete for the WNBA title in the league’s 26th season, check out our WNBA betting guide and our tips on NBA basketball betting.
2022 WNBA Betting Picks
A Chicago repeat?
It’s been a long time since a WNBA team repeated as champion. One has to go back to the 2001-02 season to find the last time that happened. The Los Angeles Sparks pulled that off. Los Angeles won in 2001, 2002 and made the finals in 2003. The Detroit Shock beat them in 2003. The Chicago Sky have a chance to join the Sparks as repeat WNBA champs.
The Sky did the hard offseason work in inking 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper to a multi-year deal. Chicago also got Courtney Vandersloot signed to a one-year deal. The team also signed Allie Quigley to a single year contract. With those players on board, the Sky has a great team to support Candace Parker, who was the anchor of the club during the 2021 season.
The one thing to watch regarding the Sky is the team’s health. All of its best players suffered injuries last year. Those injuries were a big reason the team finished the regular season with a 16-16 record.
Connecticut rebound?
The Connecticut Sun had the best record in the WNBA last season. The clubs 26-6 finish was outstanding, but the team lost three games to the Sky in the semifinals and got bounced from the playoffs.
On a positive note, the Sun will have four of the five starters from the 2019 squad on the court in 2022. That team got within one win of the WNBA title that year, dropping their series to the Washington Mystics 3-2.
The Sun have the reigning WNBA MVP on the team in Jonquel Jones, a healthy Alyssa Thomas and they also got Courtney Williams back on the roster after she spent two years with Atlanta.
Las Vegas in the mix
The Las Vegas Aces had second best record in the WNBA last season. The team finished the year at 24-8, but were bounced from the playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury in a five-game series 3-2.
Las Vegas has a new head coach in former player and NBA assistant coach Becky Hammon. Hammon, who played 16 years in the WNBA and was with the San Antonio Spurs since 2014, jumped at the chance to become a head coach.
My belief is that Hammon’s presence and the fact that she will have so many eyes on her after moving over from the NBA will be a huge factor in the success of the Aces. Hammon will be driven and her team will want to do their best to foster that success.
Our Pick
The Connecticut Sun have been in the mix to win the WNBA title for the past few years. The team, which joined the league in 1999, has never finished at the top in the post-season. If the roster can stay healthy, this is the year they end their championship draught.
Pick: Connecticut Sun to win the 2022 WNBA title.
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