Fantasy and betting updates: Rookie of the Year odds improving for Brink, Reese

We are nearly a quarter of the way through the WNBA season and as always, there’s a lot going on around the league.

So which players are trending up? Are there any futures bets worth making? And which injuries could impact fantasy women’s basketball?

Let’s take a closer look around the league for the latest fantasy and betting tidbits on all 12 teams.

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The Dream don’t have many reliable fantasy options outside of Rhyne Howard, Tina Charles, Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus. However, managers in need of a streamer shouldn’t overlook Aerial Powers (rostered in 12.3% of ESPN leagues). She has played 20 or more minutes in three of her past four games and scored 18 or more fantasy points in three of them.

Angel Reese is the fourth Sky rookie to record multiple double-doubles, joining Imani McGee-Stafford (2 in 2016), Candice Dupree (2 in 2006) and Sylvia Fowles (6 in 2008). Reese has also been very consistent in fantasy, scoring 22 or more points in seven out of eight games. Bettors shouldn’t overlook Reese (+1100) in the Rookie of the Year race (more on that below).

The Sun entered Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Mystics as double-digit favorites, despite a 3-5 record against the spread. It’s also worth noting that Connecticut had failed to cover in five of their past eight games as double-digit favorites. However, the Sun won the game by 17 points. This could be a turning point for Connecticut and spread bettors, especially considering their easy remaining schedule, which is based on the combined winning percentage of their opponents. Connecticut ranks fourth in offensive rating and first in defensive rating.

Should we take Arike Ogunbowale (+4000) seriously as an MVP candidate? Absolutely. Ogunbowale ranks second in the league with 27.1 PPG behind A’ja Wilson (27.9). On top of that, she has averaged 4.6 RPG, 5.1 APG and 3.0 SPG. The last true guard to win the MVP award was Diana Taurasi in 2009. Taurasi averaged 20.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG and 1.4 BPG that season. With numbers like Ogunbowale’s, it’s clear that she’s making a strong case for herself.

The Fever (2-9) are struggling, ranking near the bottom of the league in both offensive rating and defensive rating. Indiana has suffered two losses by 30 or more points, while the rest of the league has only one such loss (Washington Mystics). Interestingly, the Fever will face the Mystics on Friday. Better days are ahead for this young and talented Indiana team, though, and bettors should consider backing the Fever (-115) to win over 12.5 regular season games.

The Aces find themselves with a 5-2 record and rank fourth in net rating (measures the difference between points scored and points allowed per 100 possessions, indicating a team’s overall performance). The Aces (+185) along with the New York Liberty have the highest odds to win the championship. However, there is one trend that Las Vegas needs to fix quickly; the Aces don’t have a ton of depth and it doesn’t help that Chelsea Gray is still out with a leg injury. Las Vegas surprisingly ranks seventh in net rating in the fourth quarter. A’ja Wilson (33.0), Kelsey Plum (36.9), Jackie Young (36.3) and Alysha Clark (32.0) have averaged 32-plus minutes per game this season. Something bettors should be aware of as the season progresses.

There are a lot of promising rookies around the WNBA this season, but realistically the Rookie of the Year race is between Indiana’s Caitlin Clark (-650), Los Angeles’ Cameron Brink (+650) and Chicago’s Angel Reese (+1100). Reese’s defense and rebounding have kept her in the ROY conversation, and she’s made a big leap up from her +2500 odds at the start of the season. That said, her lack of scoring (10.9 PPG) and inefficiency from the field (33.8 FG%) could take her out of the running as a legitimate contender.

Brink, whose odds have jumped up from +1000 at the start of the season, contributes to multiple statistical categories on a per-game basis. If she improves her scoring average (8.0 PPG) and reduces her turnovers (2.4 TPG), she could become a force to be reckoned with in this race.

The Lynx (7-2) have been really impressive this season. Head coach Cheryl Reeve has done an excellent job building a roster around Napheesa Collier via free agency, especially since recent first-round picks like Diamond Miller and Alissa Pili yet to have a viable role in Minnesota’s rotation. Despite playing a challenging early-season schedule, the Lynx have excelled. Minnesota is a solid longshot team to bet on for winning the Commissioner’s Cup, as they rank in the top three in both offensive rating and defensive rating.

Tuesday’s game against Chicago marked the 10th time Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have combined for 50 or more points in a game as teammates and the first time this season. The Liberty are 9-1 in games where Stewart and Ionescu have combined for 50 or more points. This is something to keep in mind when looking at prop and moneyline bets for New York, depending on their opponent.

The Mercury currently have a 4-6 record, putting them under .500 through 10 games for the third consecutive season. This is notable because the Mercury had only had this happen twice in their previous 10 seasons. Also, Phoenix has struggled on the road with a 1-5 record. Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that the Mercury are 8-18 against the spread in their last 26 road games — something to keep in mind from a betting perspective.

The Storm are in the midst of a five-game winning streak, their longest since June 2021. Seattle actually leads the league in net rating during this time frame. The team appears to have jelled with new additions Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike. This is a big reason why they’ve climbed seven spots in our power rankings to No. 4. The Storm (-105) also have a very favorable rest-of-season schedule, which makes now a great time to bet on them to go over 23.5 wins.

The Mystics (0-9) are the only team in the league that hasn’t won a game yet. While Washington isn’t exactly a fantasy hoops goldmine, those with Shakira Austin on their teams should consider adding No. 6 overall pick Aaliyah Edwards (51.9%). She’s stepped up when Austin has taken rest days, scoring 27 or more fantasy points in two of the three games Austin has missed this season.