The WNBA season will begin on Tuesday. Anticipation is high for opening night, as Caitlin Clark will make her professional debut. Following a record-setting college career at Iowa, Clark was the first overall selection by the Indiana Fever at the WNBA draft.
Clark and the Fever will open the season on the road against the Connecticut Sun. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Mohegan Sun Arena. You can catch the action on ESPN2, ESPN+, and Disney+. NBA sportsbooks anticipate increased interest this season, and they’re ready with a host of options for wagering on Clark and the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark WNBA odds for the 2024 season
Clark closed out her college career in April. Iowa fell to South Carolina by a score of 87-75 in the women’s national championship game. Clark contributed 30 points on 10 of 28 shooting over 40 minutes in the losing effort, the second consecutive time that the Hawkeyes reached the title game before ultimately coming up short.
Clark exited college with the record for most career points in Division I history (3,951), as well as multiple player-of-the-year awards. Her arrival in Indiana has generated much fanfare. She begins her pro career in the rare position of being a marquee attraction prior to stepping on the court for the first time.
Clark 2024 WNBA odds and bets for this season at FanDuel Sportsbook include the following:
- To win the WNBA MVP award: +1000
- To win Rookie of the Year: -700
- To lead the Indiana Fever in scoring: -380
- First basket to be a made 3-pointer: -175
- To average 22+ points per game: -160
- To record 130+ made threes: -125
- To record three or more triple-doubles: +190
- To record one or more made three in every game: +100
- To record 10+ made threes in any game: +500
- To score 50+ points in any game: +900
- To break the WNBA single-game scoring record (54+ points): +2100
Clark is favored to win rookie honors by a wide margin. For perspective, Cameron Brinks, the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks, has odds of +900. For MVP odds, Clark is third on the board, behind A’ja Wilson (+100) and Breanna Stewart (+750). Stewart won the award last season, and Stewart took home the trophy in 2022.
Clark, Fever open season at the Sun
While sportsbooks expect Clark to make an immediate impact for the Fever, the club is still looking to rebound from a disappointing 13-27 campaign. Indiana went 7-13 in away games a season ago. Meanwhile, Connecticut finished with a record of 27-13 (13-7 at home). Below are the current betting lines for opening night:
- Fever spread: +5.5 (-110)
- Sun spread: -5.5 (-110)
- Fever moneyline: +190
- Sun moneyline: -230
DeWanna Bonner was the Sun’s leading scorer last season, averaging 17.4 points per game. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever, averaging 18.2 points. As for Clark, there are several player props available for her debut appearance:
- Total points: Over 21.5 (-113)/Under 21.5 (-113)
- To score 20+ points: -168
- To score 25+ points: +172
- To score 30+ points: +540
- Five or more made threes: +225
- Six or more made threes: +600
The Fever have missed the playoffs for the last seven seasons in a row, which is the longest active drought in the league. The latest WNBA futures odds at FanDuel suggest that the book sees the potential for some improvement this season:
- To win the WNBA championship: +2300
- To make the playoffs: -310
- Regular season wins: Over 20.5 (-102)/Under 20.5 (-125)
The Las Vegas Aces, winners of the last two WNBA titles, are favored to win it all once again at odds of +100. The New York Liberty, who fell to the Aces in last season’s championship, are second at +230. The Fever are fifth on the board, behind the Seattle Storm (+1000) and the Sun (+2300).
Playoff odds are suggesting that Indiana has a solid shot at reaching the postseason. The club last reached 20 wins in the 2015 season. For the last eight campaigns, the Fever have won 17 games or fewer, failing to break double digits in victories five times over that span.
Sportsbooks expecting increased action on WNBA this season
Caitlin Clark has captured the imagination of fans, and the same holds true for sports bettors. Earlier this week, DraftKings Sportsbook shared some perspective on the Clark frenzy, noting that the 2024 WNBA draft attracted significantly more in betting handle than the 2023 edition. It was a similar story during the NCAA tournament.
Multiple sportsbooks noted that the Iowa-South Carolina final was the most-bet women’s event ever. Betting volume is expected to be heavy on the WNBA’s opening night, but we’ll have to wait and see if the Clark factor translates into the league reaching new heights on a long-term basis.
