The Phoenix Mercury find themselves down in the WNBA Finals. But, they’re not quite out.
After dropping Game 1 at home to the Chicago Sky, Phoenix is now under pressure to win a critical Game 2.
If the Mercury are going to make this a series, they have to come away with a win Wednesday night before the series shifts to Chicago for the next two games. A Phoenix loss Wednesday means the Sky will have two chances at home to close out the franchise’s first WNBA championship.
(6) Chicago Sky at (5) Phoenix Mercury – Game 2
CHI leads series 1-0
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 13
Time: 6:00 p.m. MST
Location: Footprint Center – Phoenix, Arizona
TV Coverage: ESPN
Arizona sportsbooks like Phoenix to even up WNBA Finals
If odds from Arizona betting apps are any indication, the Mercury’s chances of evening up the WNBA Finals at one game apiece.
| Sportsbook | Moneyline | Point spread | Over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings AZ | Phoenix Mercury -200 Chicago Sky +170 | Phoenix Mercury -4.5 | 168.5 |
| BetMGM AZ | Phoenix Mercury -190 Chicago Sky +155 | Phoenix Mercury -4.5 | 168.5 |
| FanDuel AZ | Phoenix Mercury -205 Chicago Sky +164 | Phoenix Mercury -4.5 | 169.5 |
| WynnBet AZ | Phoenix Mercury -180 Chicago Sky +160 | Phoenix Mercury -4 | 169.5 |
The Mercury are favorites with every sportsbook in the Grand Canyon State. In most cases, they are heavier favorites than they were in the series opener.
Moneyline payouts hit -200 in some cases. That points to the sense of desperation the Mercury might be feeling in this game. If they lose tonight, they would be in win-or-go-home mode for the remainder of the Finals, with the next two games taking place in Chicago.
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 or 169.5 points. The opening game clocked in at 168 points.
Mercury now AZ sports betting underdogs to win championship
Although Phoenix is favored to tie up the WNBA Finals, their odds to win the championship took a hit. The Mercury are now the underdogs in the series, still needing to win three games to take home the title.
| Team | DraftKings Arizona | BetMGM Arizona | Caesars Sportsbook | FanDuel Sportsbook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | +175 | +175 | +175 | +185 |
| Chicago Sky | -215 | -225 | -210 | -230 |
The fact that Chicago has Game 3 and potentially Game 4 at home play a vital role in the sharp shift in the title betting odds. According to DraftKings Sportsbook in Arizona, the most expected outcome is that the Sky win the series in four games (+220). However, the next most-likely outcome is the Mercury winning the Finals in five games (+310). The furthest odds are Phoenix winning the next three games in a row, which is at +650.
For what it’s worth, since the WNBA Finals expanded to a best-of-five series in 2005, four teams have won the championship after losing the opening game. (That includes four years ago when the Minnesota Lynx defeating the Los Angeles Sparks and Candace Parker, who now plays for the Sky.) All four champs did so in five games, including the Mercury in 2007.
WNBA Finals thrust into the spotlight
The WNBA caught a break in terms of potential viewership. Wednesday night was supposed to see the conclusion of two MLB divisional round series, including big markets Boston and Chicago. But both of those series ended early in four games. In addition, there are no college football games, and the NBA regular season hasn’t started. Plus, there are only a handful of NHL games.
Game 2 between the Sky and Mercury can generate a lot of attention. And some sportsbooks are looking to capitalize with some odds boosts.
For example, BetMGM Arizona is offering multiple boosts to bettors, including a prop bet boost on the Mercury to win the game by 6-10 points (+375). To clarify, if Phoenix were to lose, win the game by five points or less or win by 11 points or more, you would lose the bet. There is also a boost on at least 173 points being scored (+125).
If you are a Chicago fan living in Arizona, you have a chance to cash in on your hometown teams. Over at Caesars Sportsbook AZ is a parlay boost on the Sky and the Chicago Blackhawks to win Wednesday night (+650). The max you can bet is $100. Both teams are underdogs in their games. The Blackhawks will face the Stanley Cup favorite Colorado Avalanche on the road.
