It’s Do-Or-Die For Underdog Phoenix Mercury In WNBA Semifinals Game 5

For the third time this postseason, the Phoenix Mercury face a win-or-go-home scenario.

On Wednesday night, a packed house at the Footprint Center was not enough to help Phoenix book a ticket to the WNBA Finals. The Las Vegas Aces played their best game of the series and walked out of Downtown Phoenix with a 93-76 win — forcing a do-or-die Game 5 back in Sin City.

The 2021 WNBA Playoffs have been a roller coaster ride, and this series has been no different. But for Phoenix to have a shot at winning the franchise’s fourth championship, they will have to pull off one more stunner.

Arizona sportsbooks don’t like Mercury’s chances in Game 5

It’s been quite the journey for the Mercury in these playoffs. Three home playoff games played in three different venues, combined with fantastic finishes, have led to Game 5 in the WNBA Playoff semifinals. But the odds don’t look to be in their favor.

Most Arizona sports betting apps have the Mercury as 5.5-point underdogs. That spread has even expanded to six points via WynnBet Sportsbook AZ. Bettors interested in placing money on the over/under will need to shop around for the number they like. Most books have the total either at 168.5 points or 169.

However, the Mercury are underdogs at every sportsbook. And if you want to bet on the moneyline for an upset win, you have a chance to win more than double your money.

(5) Phoenix Mercury at (2) Las Vegas Aces – Game 5
Series tied 2-2
Date: Friday, Oct. 8
Time: 6:00 p.m. MST
Location: Michelob Ultra Arena – Paradise, Nevada
TV Coverage: ESPN2

Mercury will need ‘Big 3’ to play big

As of Friday morning, there are no player prop bets on Game 5. However, if you are a Mercury fan, you know that your team will need to put up points in bunches to beat Las Vegas. That means all eyes will be on Phoenix’s Big 3.

Diana Taurasi has been a warrior in this playoffs. Still dealing with an ankle injury, she has proven why they call her “The White Mamba.” Taurasi is averaging 18.8 points per game in the playoffs. She only scored 14 points in the blowout loss in Game 4.

Brittney Griner has been a force in the paint all postseason long. She leads the Mercury in scoring during the playoffs, averaging 19.8 points per game to go along with 9.8 boards per game.

Skylar Diggins-Smith averages 14.7 points per game in the postseason. However, that is three points under what she scored during the regular season (17.7 ppg).

Las Vegas is led by reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray, who won a gold medal with the Phoenix Big 3 in Tokyo during the Summer Olympics. But they have firepower coming from other places.

In this series, Kelsey Plum (19 ppg) and Riquna Williams (16.8) have been the two leading scorers for the Aces. If the Mercury want to punch a ticket to the WNBA Finals, they will need to match Las Vegas point for point, score for score.

Title odds for Phoenix take a tumble at AZ betting apps

The roller coaster analogy fits perfectly when you look at the odds for the Phoenix Mercury to win the WNBA championship. Going into Game 4, Phoenix held the second-best odds to win it all. Now they have the worst odds.

Technically, they are now third, but that is only because the Connecticut Sun, the favorites going into the playoffs, were knocked out in four games by Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky.

Regardless of who comes out on top in Game 5 between the Mercury and the Aces, the winner will likely be the betting favorite to win the WNBA Finals over Chicago. The Sky stand as the sixth seed, which means that either Phoenix and Las Vegas would have the home-court advantage in that WNBA Finals series.