The Phoenix Mercury came two wins away from capturing the franchise’s fourth WNBA title a year ago, falling to the Chicago Sky in four games in the championship series.
Fast forward a year, and the Mercury are led by a new coach (Vanessa Nygaard), but are still among the title favorites on Arizona betting apps.
Nygaard’s first season in the Valley comes on the heels of seven-time All-Star Brittney Griner’s ongoing captivity in Russia and questions surrounding the health of the team’s other stalwart, Diana Taurasi, who missed much of the 2021 regular season with injuries.
Despite those adversities, the Mercury sit among the league’s favorites, with odds ranging from +600 to +650 to bring home the franchise’s first title since 2014.
The Mercury kick off their 2022 regular season against the Las Vegas Aces at Footprint Center at 7 p.m. Arizona time Friday on NBA TV.
Where the Mercury Stand in Title Race
The Mercury currently sit in the fifth spot on a quartet of Arizona sports betting WNBA title odds boards entering the regular season.
Phoenix’s best odds come from Caesars Sportsbook Arizona, DraftKings Sportsbook Arizona and FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona — all of whom list the Mercury at +600.
Oddsmakers at BetMGM Arizona give the Mercury +650 odds of winning championship, a year after they captured their fifth Western Conference crown.
2022 WNBA Championship Odds
Mercury a Slight Underdog in Season Opener
The Mercury are underdogs in Friday’s season opening clash against the Aces, despite having homecourt advantage.
Phoenix is +3.5, with moneyline odds that range from +135 (BetMGM Arizona) to +142 (FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona).
The Mercury will have a shot at one-upping the clubs that rank ahead of them on the operators’ title boards early in the regular season, with showdowns against Seattle (May 11 and 14), the Aces (May 6 and 17), the Sky (May 31), and the Sun (June 3) within the opening month.
Who to Watch for on This Year’s Mercury Squad?
Besides Taurasi, the Mercury’s 2022 roster features a host of veteran talent — including five-time WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith, 2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles, decorated guard Kia Nurse, forward Brianna Turner, and former University of Arizona stalwart Sam Thomas.
Thomas was signed by the Mercury as an undrafted free agent during the offseason after leading the Wildcats to the 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament title game.
