Four teams remain in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs as the semifinals are set to begin today. The first matchup is between the Seattle Storm and the Las Vegas Aces, with Game 1 of the Sun – Sky series scheduled to tip off afterwards. The four teams that remain are the class of the WNBA, which should lead to an intense day of basketball. Check out a breakdown of each game below, along with some of the best bets for the slate.
WNBA Picks Today: Round 2 Playoff Predictions
WNBA Pick: Storm vs. Aces Game 1
In terms of injuries, both of these teams will be missing key role players for Game 1. The Storm will be missing forward Gabby Williams due to a concussion, and the Aces will continue to play without Dearica Hamby. While these injuries will certainly affect rotations, expect other players such as Ezi Magbegor and Kiah Stokes to step up for their respective teams. The star players in this matchup are all at full health, which should provide plenty of opportunity to make informed and high-upside bets.
The Aces were the top scoring team in the league this year, and Seattle was a top-three team in points per game allowed. Las Vegas won the regular season series 3-1 against Seattle this year and ultimately finished ahead of the Storm in the Western Conference standings. Both teams have players that are capable of keeping up with their individual matchups, which should make for a close and hard-fought series. A’ja Wilson will have to go head-to-head with of Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles, while the Storm’s star guards will face off against players like Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young.
With it being the first game of a fresh series, it’s a bit harder to judge which team will come out hot. Because of that, it may be smart to stay away from any first quarter or first half bets. Instead, take a look at Aces -5.5 (-110) for the game. With this one being played at home in Las Vegas, it’s fair to expect the Aces to continue their hot streak. They averaged 98 points per game in their first round series, and they had a much easier time with the Mercury than Seattle did with the Mystics.
WNBA Playoff Prediction Today: Las Vegas Aces -5.5 (-110)
WNBA Pick: Sun vs. Sky Game 1
In this series, Candace Parker and the reigning champion Sky will face a hungry, well-coached Sun team led by last year’s WNBA MVP, Jonquel Jones. Overall, the health reports are clean for both teams for Game 1. Chicago guard Kahleah Copper seems to be at 100% after an injury scare in practice the other week. She posted solid numbers in her first-round series, not unlike what Jones, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner did for Connecticut in the opening round.
Parker and Copper combined to average 33 points, 17 rebounds and 7 assists per game in the first round. For the Sun, other than a one game slip-up, their team came to play against Dallas as they pulled out some lopsided wins. Jones played well when she wasn’t in foul trouble, and Bonner had a monster game in the series. Similar to the squads in the other semifinals series, these two teams match up extremely well against each other talent-wise, but that wasn’t always apparent throughout the year, as the Sky managed to sweep the four-game season series against Connecticut. It’s worth noting, however, that in those four losses the margin of victory only exceeded 4 points one time.
Look for these two teams to come out swinging early in this Game 1. Because the Sun consistently lost to Chicago this year, this is a prime bounce back spot for them. They’re getting 3.5 points in this one, and they lost by just 3 to the Sky in two out of four matchups this season. Expect the Sun to either keep it close or possibly even win outright today.
WNBA Playoff Prediction Today: Connecticut Sun +3.5 (-110)
