Chicago Sky WNBA Title Odds: 2023 Preseason Betting Analysis & Preview

Chicago Sky WNBA Title Odds

The Chicago Sky won the WNBA championship in 2021 and finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference in 2022. But after major changes to their roster, they enter the 2023 WNBA season tied for the fourth-longest title odds at +4500, according to FanDuel.

Here’s a look at their notable offseason moves and analysis on how to approach betting the Sky before the WNBA season tips off.

Notable Offseason Transactions

Additions: Courtney Williams, Marina Mabrey, Isabelle Harrison, Kayana Traylor (No. 23 pick in 2023 WNBA Draft), Kseniya Malashka (No. 35 pick).

Departures: Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Emma Meesseman, Azurá Stevens.

Betting Analysis

The Sky are unique in the transition they are attempting to make in 2023. There are several teams who had notable key pieces depart over the offseason, but unlike all those squads, the Sky appear to be going for a fast reset.

They will likely be without four of their five starters from last season's roster that finished the regular season tied for the best record. Candace Parker and Courtney Vandersloot are now on opposing superteams; Allie Quigley is sitting the season out; Emma Meesseman is not on the Sky roster and is assumed to be prioritizing her play overseas.

Kahleah Copper is the lone returning starter, but this does not appear to be a rebuild. Head coach and general manager, James Wade, had a busy offseason, bringing in a brand new backcourt of Courtney Williams and Marina Mabrey. He's also got a new starting frontcourt with Elizabeth Williams and Isabelle Harrison.

There's some talent here, but of all the rosters in the W, this one looks the most like a collection of pieces.

Mabrey showed flashes of being the main piece in an offense when Arike Ogunbowale was out late last season in Dallas, but now she'll be battling for the ball alongside Williams and Copper. Williams and Harrison make more sense to me as frontcourt pieces, but it will be a massive challenge for Wade to make it all come together. Ironically, Meesseman, if she had returned this season, would've been the perfect connector piece to make this offense go.

As is, I am quite low on their prospects. I'll be very curious how sportsbooks treat them as there appears to be a bit of discrepancy right now. With the fifth-shortest title odds, I'd fade the Sky if they were indeed being treated as the fifth-best team.

However, their win total at WynnBet in Massachusetts is just 14.5 — tied for the second-fewest in the W and right around where I see them (at 15-25). This may be a team books don't agree on early, which gives us an opportunity to go either way early in the season.