The 2024 WNBA season is right around the corner, and our analysts are here to preview every team on Action Network's newest podcast, BUCKETS WNBA.
In the debut episode, WNBA experts Maria Marino, Jim Turvey and Dano Mataya broke down every team in the Western Conference and gave out their best bets on the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, a new super team in Seattle, and more.
Be sure to subscribe to BUCKETS WNBA to listen to episodes all season long. The crew's Eastern Conference preview will come out next week, and once the regular season begins, you'll get new episodes every Tuesday and Friday that break down the action with expert picks and analysis.
Below, you can listen to the Western Conference preview and read a few of our favorite bets from the episode.
WNBA Best Bets
Seattle Storm
Jim Turvey: I'm insanely high on Seattle. I think the team fit for Seattle might even be better than the team fit for New York.
I think Nneka Ogwumike is the fourth-best player in the WNBA. Behind those top three that finished in the top three in MVP voting last season — Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas and A'ja Wilson — I have Ogwumike as my fourth-best player, even at her age.
She had her best season since 2017 last year, and I think even more than that, if I were to choose a star to build around, she's so easy to build around. She brings literally everything to the table and takes nothing off.
And that's why I think the backcourt is such a key pivot, because Jewell Loyd has been on superteams. She's been on title teams. But that was kind of before she broke out.
She was the leading scorer in the WNBA last season. Now, she's going to have a lot of good teammates. Is she going to be looking to press? Is she going to be like, "Hey, I have played a supporting role, now I'm even better and I can really be a 1 or 1A with Nneka? I might not be the leading scorer, but we can win a title."
I think she's going to make that transition, and that's why I am really high on Seattle.
Best Bet: Seattle Storm Over 23.5 Wins
Las Vegas Aces
Dano Mataya: I think this is still one of the best teams.
And if you look at their lineup of Kiah Stokes, Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, it was third overall in best possible lineups in terms of offensive rating. And defensive rating-wise, that lineup was No. 1.
Last year everyone talked about the bench and the lack of depth. They lost a starter and still ran away with it.
I think this is a team I'm looking to play live. I was on their over last year, which was set at 30. When it got up to 35, I played the under.
This year, at 32.5, you've got to think under. You could see a scenario where they lose a few early and maybe Gray isn't fully right early on.
Best Bet: Las Vegas Aces Under 32.5 Wins
Minnesota Lynx
Maria Marino: I think this is a team where there are plenty of actionable things. Their win total is set at 16.5 after they went 19-21 a season ago and ended up sixth in the standings.
The way this league is set up, there's a very good chance that all these middle-of-the-road teams are very tight, maybe hovering around .500. That's what we saw a season ago.
I think this win total is a bit low for the Lynx.
Last year, if you recall, they started the season horribly with seven straight losses. The fact that they made the playoffs — and not only that, but they had a playoff win against Connecticut — based on the start they had, you would not have expected them to ascend in the way they did.
So, I feel pretty confident they're going to be better than they were a season ago. They added Natisha Hiedeman, they added Courtney Williams, they added Alanna Smith, they drafted Alissa Pili. There's a lot of talent there.
I trust Cheryl Reeve. She is easily one of the best coaches in the league. Under Reeve, the Lynx have made the playoffs in 12 of their 14 years. The only times they didn't were her very first season and two seasons ago when their best player, Napheesa Collier, was out on maternity leave.
Kayla McBride was playing way better last season and was extended right before the last postseason. So, now we have another year with McBride and Collier playing together, and Collier is another year removed from being out on maternity leave, where she was still kind of working her way into shape at the beginning of last season.
I like the Lynx to make the playoffs and to also go over their win total.
Best Bets: Minnesota Lynx To Make The Playoffs | Over 16.5 Wins
