WNBA 2025 betting predictions: Odds and best bets for MVP, Rookie of the Year, 2025 WNBA Finals and more

The 2025 WNBA season has arrived, and it's already shaping up to be one of the best campaigns in league history. 

Brianna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and the reigning-champion Liberty will be looking to run it back after triumphantly securing New York's first-ever Finals victory over Napheesa Collier and the Lynx.

A'ja Wilson and the Aces, meanwhile, will be looking to exact revenge on New York for knocking them out of the playoffs. And we mustn't forget about Caitlin Clark and the Fever, who made the playoffs last year after Indiana went just 13-27 one season prior. 

Clark opens as the odds-on favorite to win WNBA MVP this season, mostly because she's such a fan favorite and draws massive betting activity each year. Can the second-year phenom actually win the award, or will Wilson, Stewart, Collier or another star take it down? And will Wings Rookie of the Year favorite Paige Bueckers follow in Clark's footsteps as the best first-year player in the W?

There are plenty of questions this season, and the Sporting News is prepared to provide some answers — or at least some educated guesses. Here's the odds, as well as our official picks, predictions and best bets for the 2025 WNBA season. 

WNBA odds and predictions for 2025 season

All odds courtesy of BetMGM online sportsbook. 

MVP: A'ja Wilson, Aces (+210)

Wilson has won two of the past three WNBA MVPs — and three of the past five — and as long as she's healthy, she's the best bet to win the next one. The Aces superstar is the face of the league and easily the most dominant player, and Las Vegas should be a prime contender to bounce back and make a run at its third championship in four years. 

After finishing third place in MVP voting in 2023, Wilson went nuclear last season. The 6-4 superstar averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks en route to a unanimous MVP ballot. She's simply in a league of her own when it comes to taking over games, and she remains the most important and most valuable member of any true contender in the league. 

The Aces will need Wilson to ball out again in 2025, especially after losing to the Liberty in New York during last year's playoffs. Getting home-court advantage will be crucial for Las Vegas this season, especially as parity continues to improve throughout the league with all the young stars like Clark, Bueckers and Angel Reese. 

MVP fade: Caitlin Clark, Fever (+195)

You wouldn't be getting any value with Clark, who plays on a Fever team that just went 20-20 and still has a lot of question marks. There's only one reason BetMGM listed Clark's odds this short: she's a liability to the sportsbook.

The vast majority of MVP bettors have bet on Clark to win — so if she actually goes nuclear and wins the award, the books will get crushed. By trimming her odds, BetMGM lowered the total amount that it would need to pay out to bettors if she actually wins the award. The short odds also make Clark look like a true favorite to win the award, despite the fact that she finished a distant fourth in 2024 voting.

In reality, Clark is only going to win the award if she has a truly historic season, she guides the Fever to a vastly-improved campaign, and Wilson, Collier and Stewart all have lesser seasons statistically. That's too many ifs to bet a 23-year-old to win MVP. 

Rookie of the Year: Dominque Malonga, Storm (+400)

Paige Bueckers enters the 2025 WNBA season as a whopping -295 favorite to win Rookie of the Year, not surprising considering her all-around game and the fact that she makes everyone around her better. It's also worth mentioning that the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft has won 12 of the past 17 ROYs. However, -295 is way too juiced-up, and we like the value we're getting with No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga. 

The French phenom has a chance to be the Wemby of the WNBA, thanks to her 6-6 frame and unique combination of size, skill and professional experience overseas. She's an athletic specimen with the ability to take over games on both sides of the floor, and she could take over the MVP odds boards in short order if Bueckers takes too long to get going in her first season as a pro.

Defensive Player of the Year: A'ja Wilson, Aces (+195)

Collier pulled down DPOY honors last year after averaging 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, but we don't think Wilson will go two straight years as the runner-up. The Aces' defensive anchor just averaged 2.6 blocks and 1.8 steals per game and somehow didn't win Defensive Player of the Year! Even if her stats are not as gaudy this time around, she might still win as a makeup for last year's ridiculous snub. 

Wilson won this award in 2022 and 2023, not just for her defensive counting stats but also for her leadership, communication, help D, rim protection and defensive rebounding. She's the full package, and she's rightly atop the DPOY futures boards once again as the woman to beat.

Defensive Player of the Year sleeper: Cameron Brink, Sparks (+2500)

Brink has incredible intangibles for a young player, and her 6-4 frame and 6-8 wingspan make her an intriguing long-shot play for DPOY. The Sparks sensation averaged 2.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game as a rookie last season, so even a small step forward could land her this award and reward bettors with a big-time windfall. 

Most Improved Player: Kate Martin, Valkyries (+1500)

Martin went from one of the glue-girls of the Las Vegas Aces to one of the Valkyries' key expansion-draft picks. She can now become the leader of a young squad, and she will benefit from her rapport with Golden State head coach and former Aces assistant Natalie Nakase. MIP used to be jokingly considered an Aces award, so don't be surprised if a former Las Vegas player takes it down in her first stint away from Sin City. 

Most Improved Player sleeper: Jacy Sheldon, Wings (+5000)

Sheldon endured an underwhelming start to her WNBA career in 2024, but Dallas was also a terrible team. With Paige Bueckers entering the rotation, Sheldon could easily make a huge jump from her rookie averages of 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. The bones are good with Sheldon's game, and she can shoot the lights out with a little confidence boost and more floor spacing. This feels like a solid lotto-ticket bet. 

Sixth Player of the Year: Sophie Cunningham, Fever (+1000)

Cunningham made a case for Sixth Player of the Year in 2024, averaging 8.4 points per game across 19 contests off the bench. She showcased her versatility, scoring prowess, efficiency and leadership as a key reserve for an Indy team that improved mightily from its previous campaign. As long as she doesn't start too many games in 2025, Cunningham seems like a strong contender to pull down this award. 

Coach of the Year: Sandy Brondello, Liberty (+700)

Brondello deserved more consideration last year, so don't be surprised if she wins this time around now that the Liberty have won their first championship. Having the best team in the WNBA always helps in this voting process, and New York is arguably the best of the best once again in 2025. 

WNBA playoff predictions 2024

1. New York Liberty
2. Las Vegas Aces
3. Minnesota Lynx
4. Phoenix Mercury
5. Indiana Fever
6. Seattle Storm
7. Atlanta Dream
8. Dallas Wings
9. Los Angeles Sparks
10. Chicago Sky
11. Connecticut Sun
12. Golden State Valkyrie
13. Washington Mystics

While Minnesota had a glorious run in 2024, we expect the two perennial power players — the reigning-champion Liberty and the A'ja Wilson-led Aces — to be back atop the standings at the end of the 2025 season. 

The Sun will have the biggest fall from grace, going from annual contender to one of the top tankers. Phoenix, Indiana, Atlanta and Dallas will all enjoy nice bumps from new acquisitions and draft picks. The Sparks and Sky will have good moments but still have trouble emerging as viable playoff threats. 

WNBA Finals odds

WNBA Finals prediction: Aces over Liberty

This matchup would make for the best storyline and also provide the WNBA with a star-studded championship. After the Liberty eliminated Las Vegas in 2024, A'ja Wilson and company will be looking to exact vengeance on their rivals this time around. 

Many teams improved in the 2024-25 offseason, but these two teams still have the most talent from top to bottom, the best scoring chops and the most clutch defensive clamps. This should be yet another instant-classic of a WNBA Finals, and we like Vegas to record its third chip in four years and enter the conversation of sports' all-time greatest dynasties.