The Washington Mystics, our local WNBA franchise, are among the preseason favorites to win a 2021 season championship.
All of the operational VA online sportsbooks recently released 2021 WNBA championship odds. With a futures wager, bettors can predict the outcome of a future event, in this case, the next WNBA champs.
The Mystics have made the WNBA Playoffs 13 times in the 23 seasons since their formation in 1998.
After winnings their first championship in 2019, the Mystics lost in the first round of the 2020 playoffs.
So, what about 2021?
2021 WNBA odds for Washington Mystics
The Seattle Storm emerged from the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with a championship banner. The team is the favorite to do it again in 2021, with odds of +160 to +200 at sportsbooks across Virginia. With a $10 wager, a Storm bettor would net $16 to $20 in profit at those odds if the team repeats.
But the Washington Mystics (+300 to +400) aren’t far behind. Neither are the Las Vegas Aces (+200 to +450).
All of the teams kick off the regular season in May, though the league hasn’t released the schedule.
The Mystics, who play home games at the 4,200-seat St. Elizabeths East Arena in Washington, DC, have made the playoffs in seven of the past eight years, all of which were under head coach Mike Thibault.
The oddsmakers clearly expect his team to excel again in 2021.
Here are the odds for a 2021 WNBA Championship for the three preseason favorites:
Seattle Storm | Washington Mystics | Las Vegas Aces | |
---|---|---|---|
FanDuel | +170 | +400 | +450 |
BetMGM | +225 | +350 | +200 |
William Hill | +160 | +350 | +350 |
DraftKings | +175 | +300 | +350 |
BetRivers | +175 | +300 | +350 |
As you can see, there’s a lot of discrepancy from one Virginia sports betting outlet to another. That’s typical for smaller betting markets such as the WNBA. So be sure to shop around for the best odds. With smaller markets, bettors can also expect to run into lower betting limits as well. That is the case with WNBA betting, which is often limited to several hundred dollars per bet.
A word of caution about futures bets
For casual and even more serious bettors, futures bets can be fun.
Betting on the Washington Nationals to win the World Series? Think the Washington Football Team could finally win another Super Bowl?
Place a futures bet, and now you have some skin in the game for each matchup. However, you don’t have to wager on each individual game.
However, don’t lose sight of the big picture. When you place a futures bet, the sportsbook is holding on to that money until the wager finally settles. The WNBA preseason starts in April, and the playoffs don’t conclude until October.
Are you OK with having part of your betting bankroll tied up for six months? Would you rather have those funds at the ready for day-to-day wagering options? Those are considerations to keep in mind before you go too crazy in the futures market.
But as with a bet on the Mystics to win a 2021 WNBA season title, it can be a little fun to risk a bit now to keep you engaged and vested for the months to come.
A look at the 2021 Washington Mystics
A lot will happen before the 2021 WNBA season officially kicks off. Free agency is still underway. Additionally, the 2021 WNBA Draft and preseason are still weeks away.
Still, lots of knowledgeable WNBA insiders are big on Washington’s chances this year in the Eastern Conference. Mike Thibault, the WNBA’s all-time wins leader for coaches, will have plenty of pieces to work with this season.
After opting out of the 2020 season because of the threat of COVID-19, two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne (19.5 points/game in 2019) returns to the team.
Their 2020 top scorer, Myisha Hines-Allen (17 points/game in 2020), will join her after a breakout year. So, too, will Tina Charles (career 18.3 points/game), who was traded to Washington prior to the 2020 season but had to sit out due to extrinsic asthma.
Washington also signed free agent Alysha Clark after her 2020 championship with the Storm. The 33-year-old averaged 10 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game last season.
With the new and old pieces, the Mystics are well-stocked for a shot in 2021. If you think it could be their year in the 12-team league, now’s the time to place your futures bet.