WNBA standings make New York Liberty a +650 title pick
Despite sitting seventh in the WNBA standings at 15-12 after 27 games, the New York Liberty remain a high-value title futures pick at +650 heading into the second half, while Golden State's Gabby Williams is priced at +110 to win Defensive Player of the Year.
Key Takeaways
- The Liberty sit seventh in the WNBA standings at 15-12 but are +650 to win the title after a wave of early injuries.
- Coach Chris DeMarco expects Satou Sabally and Leonie Fiebich back soon; Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones say they feel healthy.
- The Aug. 2 trade deadline could reshape contenders, with Golden State linked to Kelsey Plum and New York expected to buy.
- Gabby Williams is the Defensive Player of the Year chalk at +110 on the league's top defensive team.
At the All-Star break, Yahoo Sports' futures look focuses less on the weekend festivities and more on who buyers and sellers will be before the Aug. 2 deadline—and which injury recoveries the market still undervalues. For more oddball sports angles, see Bizarre World.
Why do the WNBA standings still favor a Liberty title bet?
Preseason, New York carried the highest win total and the shortest championship odds. Through 27 games, that pedigree has not shown up in the WNBA standings: the Liberty are 15-12 and seventh.
Yahoo Sports attributes the slide mainly to injuries. Jonquel Jones returned rusty after offseason surgery. Sabrina Ionescu missed time with foot and back issues. Marquee free-agent signing Satou Sabally started late with a cyst and is dealing with a concussion. Role players Leonie Fiebich and Marine Johannes have also been limited by left foot/ankle injuries.
DeMarco said Sabally and Fiebich are progressing and expected back soon, while Ionescu and Jones both say they finally feel great. If that group—plus Breanna Stewart—gets healthy, Yahoo argues New York has the league's most talented roster. Ionescu, Stewart, Jones, and Fiebich already won a title together; Sabally is framed as a major upgrade at the fifth starter spot.
The Liberty are also projected to stay in buyer mode at the deadline. Separately, The Athletic reports Betnijah Laney-Hamilton's name has been in New York trade talks again as the deadline nears, though asking price has been a hurdle.
How does the playoff format help New York?
Even as a likely playoff road team based on current WNBA standings, New York may still price as a favorite in most series games. The league shifted home-court series structure to 1-1-1 instead of 2-1, which Yahoo says makes the Liberty bigger home favorites and shorter road underdogs than most opponents.
Is Gabby Williams the better Defensive Player of the Year wager?
The second recommended futures bet is Williams of the Golden State Valkyries at +110. Yahoo's case is simple: the best defender on the best defensive team, with versatile switching and late-game steals that have iced wins.
Natasha Howard sits second at +250, but Minnesota has welcomed Napheesa Collier back, which could split Lynx defensive credit. A'ja Wilson of Las Vegas is third; Yahoo notes she is a near-lock for a fifth MVP, yet the Aces rank ninth of 15 in defense, raising voter-fatigue risk after she shared last year's DPOY. The Valkyries have also been linked to Sparks All-Star Kelsey Plum ahead of the deadline—extra offense that could let Williams lean even harder into defense. Yahoo's fair price for Williams is closer to -150 than +110.
With the stretch run and trade talks heating up, the gap between today's WNBA standings and title futures is exactly where these two wagers live.