How to bet on WNBA: A complete guide for bet types, understanding odds, and key terms

Women's basketball has seen massive growth and expansion in recent years, and that has certainly translated to sports betting as well. With more and more gamblers looking to take action on women's basketball, it's worth exploring all the ins and outs of how to bet on the WNBA.

WNBA betting offers a plethora of possibilities, including popular bet types and exciting promos and bonuses for wagering on the diverse range of markets. Ready to get started with betting on women's pro hoops? Check out all the information below detailing everything you'll need to know about WNBA betting.

How to bet on WNBA: Understanding odds and bet types

Just like any major sport, there are a variety of ways to bet on WNBA action. Fans can wager from game to game, place futures bets for end-of-season outcomes, wager on individual player props, and even bet on live action after it's tipped off.

The first things to understand are the odds and bet types, so let's start with how to bet on WNBA markets and all the popular options.

WNBA Moneylines

The easiest way to bet on WNBA games is by wagering on a moneyline. A moneyline bet simply represents either team to win the game, outright, and the margin of victory is not taken into consideration.

Understanding WNBA moneyline odds is very easy. The favored team will be marked with (-) odds, while the underdog team will be marked with (+) odds. These odds represent the likelihood of the associated team to win the game, and they dictate the payouts on potentially winning bets.

To give an example, the reigning champion New York Liberty might be close to a (-400) favorite vs. the newly established Golden State Valkyries; let's put them at (+400) odds in this hypothetical. If a WNBA gambler wanted to back the Liberty and walk away with a $100 profit, it would require a $400 stake due to New York's (-400) odds.

On the flip side, if a WNBA bettor wanted to back the Valkyries in an upset, then a $100 wager would bring back a $400 profit in the event of a Golden State win. This is because the Valkyries are (+400) underdogs in the hypothetical WNBA moneyline example.

Point Spread

Another very popular and simple way to wager on WNBA games is to take action on the point spread. Betting on the point spread is wagering on the handicap set by the oddsmakers.

With point spread bets, favored teams will be giving (-) points, while underdog teams will be getting (+) points. To win a point spread bet, the team you wager on must either win by more than the spread amount (if betting on a favored team) or lose by less than the spread amount (if betting on an underdog team).

To go back to the NY Liberty vs. GS Valkyries example, let's say the Liberty are (-9) point favorites on the spread. If a user bets on the Liberty minus the points, they will need New York to win by at least ten points to cash the bet ticket.

On the other side of the coin, a Valkyrie (+9) point spread bettor would need Golden State to either win the game outright or lose by no more than eight points in order to cash the bet ticket.

If a point spread bet ends in a tie, it's considered a push, and the user is refunded. To avoid this outcome, sportsbooks often set point spread totals that end in (.5) to ensure there is a win/loss result of the bet.

Over/Under Total

For WNBA bettors with less of a rooting interest in either team to win the game, there is always the option to bet on the over/under total. The over/under total does not take the winner and loser of the game into consideration, it only has to do with the combined final score.

Oddsmakers will set the over/under total number, and bettors place wagers on the actual total to go over or under that number. Over/under total betting is a great option, particularly for games that are a clear mismatch, as it creates a new rooting avenue.

It should be pointed out that over/under total bets that end in a tie are considered a push, and the user is refunded.

WNBA Player Props

In addition to wagering on games, WNBA bettors can also take action on player props. This bet type is based on individual players reaching certain statistical thresholds and disregards the team's win/loss result.

The following are popular WNBA player props to bet on:

• Points
• Assists
• Rebounds
• Steals
• Blocks
• Three pointers made
• Free throws made
• Field goals made

It's very popular to parlay WNBA player props together onto the same betting ticket. This is available for traditional parlays involving multiple games, as well as same-game parlays that involve prop betting markets from just one game.

WNBA Parlays

One of the most popular, and potentially lucrative, ways to wager on any sport, including the WNBA, is to bet a parlay. This bet type involves stacking together multiple bets from various games onto the same bet ticket for multiplied odds.

In order to cash a parlay ticket, each individual bet (leg) must be successful. If any of the individual legs loses, the entire parlay ticket is marked as a loss. If any of the legs of the parlay ends in a tie, they are considered a push and voided from the parlay ticket.

Any eligible combination of two or more betting lines is considered a parlay, and sportsbooks typically allow up to 12 legs per parlay. Parlays can be one of the most lucrative ways to bet on WNBA games because of the multiplied odds, but this bet type is also harder to win due to the fact that multiple wagers must succeed.

Same Game Parlays

In addition to traditional parlay bets, WNBA fans can also lock in on just one contest and craft a same-game parlay. This bet type is exactly what it sounds like, a parlay that involves wagers from just one game (same game).

Same game parlays are a very popular way to stack together player prop bets, and have become increasingly popular in general sports betting as well as WNBA betting.

WNBA Live Betting

Women's basketball bettors don't ever need to worry about missing the start of the game, because live betting capabilities will allow them to get in on the action at virtually any point during the contest. Live betting odds open as soon as the game tips off and will continuously update with the action to reflect the status of the ongoing game.

Live betting is a very popular way to wager, particularly for a sport like basketball, where a team going on a run can quickly change the momentum of a game. As such, live wagering often presents major points of value for sports bettors, and this is no different with WNBA betting.

WNBA Futures

The WNBA betting doesn't stop with game-to-game or live wagers. Users also have the option to call their shot long in advance with WNBA futures bets. This bet type allows users to wager on a potential outcome down the road and offers some of the longest available odds.

Some of the popular WNBA futures bets include:

• Team to win the championship
• Team to win the conference
• Team to record over/under X amount of wins
• Team to make the Playoffs

There is also the option to wager on individual player futures markets. For WNBA betting, these are the options:

• MVP
• Rookie of the Year
• Defensive Player of the Year
• Most Improved Player
• Sixth Player of the Year

Oftentimes, sportsbook operators will allow users to parlay together multiple futures betting lines. While these can be some of the longest wagers to wait on, they can also provide some of the longest odds available.

Where can I bet on the WNBA?

Sports betting is rapidly expanding, with over half the states nationwide already having launched some form of legal sportsbooks. With the WNBA expanding to 13 teams, there is ample coverage throughout the country for WNBA bettors.

Online Sports Betting Available States

Online sports betting and WNBA betting is available for users in the following states:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Washington DC
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

WNBA fans can expect to see this list grow even longer in the coming years, as there are several states with sports betting legislation already in the pipeline.

FAQ for how to bet on WNBA

Some of the frequently asked questions about how to bet on WNBA.

Can I bet on WNBA games?

Yes, WNBA betting is available in over half the states throughout the country where legal sportsbooks have been launched. Eligible users can enjoy a variety of bet types and wagering methods to take action on WNBA games.

What is the minimum age to bet on WNBA?

In most states, the minimum sports betting age is 21 years old; however, there are several states that permit users 18 and older to bet on sports: Check up on your state's minimum betting age rule before getting started with betting on WNBA.

What are the different bet types for wagering on WNBA?

WNBA fans have multiple bet types available to wager on games, including moneylines, point spreads, over/under totals, player props, parlays, same game parlays, live betting, futures, and more: With the WNBA expanding to 13 teams for the 2025 season, there are even more available betting markets.

Where can I bet on WNBA?

Eligible users located in AZ, CT, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV,  and WY can bet on WNBA: The list of available WNBA betting states continues to expand as the sports betting industry experiences massive growth.

Are there sportsbook promos and bonuses for betting on WNBA?

Yes, WNBA bettors can regularly score bonus offers from operators DraftKings, bet365, FanDuel, Caesars, BetMGM, and more: Before locking in any WNBA bets, check out the promos tab of your sportsbook app to see if there are any available bonuses for taking action on WNBA games.