Illinois sportsbooks are predicting a repeat of the events of 2014, when the Phoenix Mercury swept the Chicago Sky in the championship series. This was Chicago’s only appearance in the finals at the time. IL sports betting apps anticipate Phoenix to take a similar step towards victory in the WNBA Finals Game 1 on Sunday.
The ABC battle starting at 2 p.m. holds significant factual implications for determining the winning team of the set. Bookmakers may be placing excessive reliance on historical data.
IL betting odds for Sunday’s first match of the WNBA Finals
In the opening game at the Footprint Center, The Mercury are favored by 3.5 to 4 points. The entire best-of-five series is also covered by IL betting lines.
| Sportsbook | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetRivers Sportsbook | 4-112 Chicago + – 4 – 114 Phoenix |
Between 166 and 113 Between 166 and 113 |
Chicago + 143. Phoenix – 180. |
| DraftKings Sportsbook | Chicago + 3. 5 – 110 Phoenix( 3. 5 – 110 ) |
between 166 and 110 Between 166 and 110 |
140 Chicago + Phoenix – 160. |
| FanDuel Sportsbook | Chicago + 3. 5 – 115 Nova: 3. 5 – 105 |
Between 166.5 and 115 Under 166.5 – 105 |
130 Illinois + Phoenix – 160. |
| PointsBet Sportsbook | Chicago + 3. 5 – 110 Phoenix( 3. 5 – 110 ) |
Between 167 and 110 Between 167 and 110 |
140 Chicago + Phoenix – 165 |
This activity was entered by The Sky in perfect health. Chicago, as a road underdog, has covered the spread all but once this postseason and holds a record of 2-1 against it.
The moneyline suggests that Phoenix’s recent performance is strong. The Mercury won all three regular season meetings, with two of them being hosted by Phoenix.
Upon further review of the competitions and the damage report from Phoenix, punters may find an advantageous opportunity. In general, it seems to offer a favorable price.
Phoenix and Nursing andrsquo’s backcourt
Kia Nurse will be absent in Game 1 for the Mercury due to a knee injury. Nurse, known as one of Phoenix’s top on-ball defenders, will be greatly missed. In addition, Sophie Cunningham’s availability for the game is uncertain as she is dealing with a strained calf.
With Mercury center Brittney Griner in the frontcourt, the Sky’s guard rotation may see increased opportunities and allow Chicago to play more from beyond the arc. This development is promising for the team’s overall success.
Casinos are primarily established based on the average score of 168 points in the three regular-season matchups. However, Diana Taurasi from Phoenix and Candace Parker from Sky did not play in the first two of those games.
The final score between the two teams, which featured Parker and Taurasi, was 186. This suggests that it is quite plausible to predict an Over scenario. The chances of Phoenix winning the game also seem high if Taurasi can once again lead the Mercury to victory.
Ratios significantly increase for Game 1 success.
Since the WNBA Finals switched to a best-of-five format in 2005, only one game has seen the home team win the opener but ultimately lose the series. Teams that drop the first game at home have a record of 4-3 in series outcomes.
Therefore, Chicago faces an uphill battle if they are defeated on Sunday. Illinois sportsbooks currently have the Mercury as the frontrunners to win the series.
BetRiversSportsbook offers a Finals MVP futures market with Parker having the best odds among Sky players at +400. DraftKingsSportsbook has Series Correct Score and other series props available, such as +750 odds on a Chicago sweep.
Considering the current state of Phoenix’s backcourt, the strong momentum of Chicago, and the Sky’s impressive performance in the postseason, it might be challenging to ignore the spread. Nevertheless, opting for the Over on the total seems like the most secure choice.
