WNBA Best Bets for August 15: Weekend Preview and WNBA Champion Odds

Meghan Townsley of DraftKings Network

The WNBA playoff race is heating up, and this weekend’s slate is loaded with betting value on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Minnesota Lynx are fighting to hold the top spot, the red-hot Las Vegas Aces are pushing to extend their late-season surge, and the New York Liberty are desperate to break out of a slump. Plus, the WNBA Champion odds at DraftKings Sportsbook have seen some notable movement.

Let’s take a look at the latest WNBA odds for WNBA Champion, give a weekend preview, and I’ll share my WNBA best bets for Friday and Saturday’s games on DraftKings Sportsbook. You can also find more WNBA previews, picks, and daily content on DraftKings Network.

 

2025 WNBA Champion Odds

The Favorite: MIN Lynx (+155)

It’s been a back-and-forth battle between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty in the WNBA futures market. Earlier this month, Minnesota (+180) opened August as the Finals favorite, only for New York (+170) to take over on August 8. Now, a week later, the odds have swung again — Minnesota sits atop the board at +155 to win it all on DraftKings Sportsbook.

The defending champs have hit a wall, losing six of their last 10 and sliding from the No. 2 seed after spending most of the season there. Injuries, most notably to Breanna Stewart, have played a role, but inconsistency and sloppy execution have been just as costly, dropping New York behind Atlanta in the standings.

Meanwhile, Minnesota has been rolling, winning nine of their last 10 despite being without MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier. Their surge comes from a disciplined defense, balanced scoring, and a next-player-up mentality, with Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams delivering night after night. At this pace, the Lynx locking up the No. 1 seed feels inevitable.


WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview

Seattle Storm at Atlanta Dream — Friday, August 15, 10:00 PM ET

If there’s a team peaking at the right time, it’s the Atlanta Dream. Winners of eight of their last 10 and riding a six-game streak, Atlanta has jumped the defending champs for the No. 2 seed. Allisha Gray is playing at an MVP level, posting career highs of 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. She set the tone in the first of back-to-back matchups with Seattle, dropping 21 points and 11 boards in an 85-75 win that handed the Storm their sixth straight loss. Rhyne Howard also lit it up with 25 points, giving Atlanta serious momentum for Friday’s rematch.

Seattle, meanwhile, has spiraled since trading for Brittney Sykes at the deadline, losing eight of their last 10 and clinging to the final playoff spot. Nneka Ogwumike remains a bright spot, averaging 19 points and 7.4 rebounds over her last five, including a 29-point performance last game. But Skylar Diggins has cooled off, leaving the Storm without their second scoring punch. With the Dream rolling and Seattle reeling, I’m backing Atlanta to extend their win streak to seven and keep their grip on that No. 2 seed.

PICK: ATL Dream -2.5 (-112)


New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx — Saturday, August 16, 2:00 PM ET

Nothing beats a Finals rematch — unless you’re New York this season. The Liberty have dropped both meetings with Minnesota, losing by a combined 19 points. While both teams are still missing their stars, the Finals favorite Lynx have shown they can thrive without MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier. Tight rotations, timely turnovers, and efficient role-player production have let them dictate pace and finish strong against elite opponents.

For the defending champs, Breanna Stewart’s absence has created a glaring two-way gap. Rebounding issues and an uptick in turnovers have stalled the offense, making it tough to keep pace.

Kayla McBride has stepped up big in Collier’s absence, averaging 18.2 points over her last five, including eight threes in Minnesota’s record-setting 53-point road win over the Aces. Pair her consistency with Alanna Smith’s rim protection and Courtney Williams’ playmaking, and it’s tough to bet against the Lynx continuing their dominance in this matchup.

Strong Lean: MIN ML

PICK: Kayla McBride Over 15.5 Points (-105)

 

All season long, I’ll be tracking the WNBA Odds for MVP, Finals Winner and more right here!

All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.

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