Hammon Tries To Lead Aces To Top of WNBA in First Season
Other than defending champion Chicago, the teams receiving the most love when the season began are the teams set to meet in the championship series.
This will be the third time in the last four years that a first-time champion will be crowned. Las Vegas reached the WNBA finals in 2020 with Connecticut getting to the championship series in 2019.
Las Vegas is the favorite in not just the opening game but when looking at the series price as the Aces come in at -290 compared to +240 for Connecticut according to the WNBA playoff odds.
Let’s check the latest WNBA picks, stats, WNBA news, injury reports, and WNBA odds for Sun vs Aces. We’ve plenty of WNBA championship odds for you to consider.
Connecticut Sun Starts Another Series on the Road
Connecticut is 3-1 on the road in this year’s playoffs so starting the WNBA title season away from home shouldn’t be that big of a deal. The Sun went to Chicago and eliminated the defending champions on their home court thanks to a fourth quarter for the ages.
Connecticut trailed by 10 points heading into the fourth quarter but the Sun outscored Chicago 24-5 in the final quarter. The Sun scored the final 18 points, the longest game-ending scoring surge in WNBA postseason history.
The reward is the franchise’s fourth trip to the WNBA finals.
Vegas, here comes the Sun. #WNBAFinals | #CTSun pic.twitter.com/mbEGDhwslD
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 9, 2022
Jonquel Jones leads the Sun with an average of 15.3 points in the four road playoff games and she is shooting 52.1% from the field. DeWanna Bonner is contributing 13.3 points per game on the road in the postseason while Alyssa Thomas and Natisha Hiedeman average 11 points each.
Connecticut has covered against the WNBA betting lines in nine of its last 10 games.
Wilson Looks To Pace Aces
When A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2020, she led the Aces to the WNBA finals. However, Las Vegas fell to Seattle. The Aces made sure that wouldn’t happen again by taking out Seattle in four games during the semifinals. Wilson averaged 30 points and 12,3 rebounds in the last three games of the series.
She had plenty of help. Chelsea Gray led Las Vegas with an average of 25 points per game as well as 8.5 assists in the semifinal series. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young combined for 28.1 points and 6.3 assists against the Storm,
There is a dropoff in production after the top four scorers. That could change if Dearcia Hamby rediscovers her form after missing four of the six playoffs games due to injury and being limited to eight minutes in the other two postseason games.
Something to consider for those who bet online, Las Vegas has covered in just four of its last 12 games.
Sun vs Aces Game Information
- Game: Sun 25-11 (5-3 in the playoffs) vs Aces 26-10 (5-1 in the playoffs);
- Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago
- Day/Time: Sunday, Sept. 11, 3:00 p.m. ET
- Sun vs Aces Live Stream: WNBA League Pass
Sun vs Aces Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Suns |
+6 -110
|
+210
|
169 -110o | 81½ -115o / 81½ -115u |
| Aces |
-6 -110
|
-250 | 169 -110u | 87½ -115o / 87½ -115u |
Sun vs Aces Prediction
The series could come down to which team dictates the style of play. Connecticut has lost two of the three games in the playoffs when allowing its opponent to score at least 80 points. Las Vegas has the top offensive rating (114.7) in the playoffs while Connecticut has the best defensive rating (91.9). Connecticut won’t be looking to turn this series into a track meet.
Connecticut lost all four games in the regular season against Chicago and prevailed in the playoff series so previous results don’t always translate into the postseason. Connecticut and Las Vegas each won on the other team’s home court in the last two regular-season games.
Six Connecticut players averaged more than 10 points per game in the three matchups with the Aces during the regular season led by Bonner’s 17.3 points per contest and the 15.7 registered by Courtney Williams. Kelsey Plum led Las Vegas in scoring (21 points per game) while Jackie Young and Wilson added 19.7 and 19 PPG in the three meetings against the Sun.
The total has gone under in five of Connecticut’s last six games as well as in seven of the last 10 games at home for Las Vegas.
The Aces are 2-4-1 in the last seven games against Connecticut. The 6-point line might be a little high but it is hard to pick against the top-seeded Aces winning straight up in the series opener.
Pick: Las Vegas Aces -250
Pick: Connecticut Sun +6 (-105)
