Plum Job: Sparks' WNBA title odds vault

Field Level Media|published: Mon 27th January, 13:17 2025

Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) shoots the ball against LA Sparks forward Stephanie Talbot (7) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Worst to first?

Or at least a threat.

That's how oddsmakers view the Los Angeles Sparks after their blockbuster agreement to acquire three-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum.

The Sparks, who finished a league-worst 8-32 last season, saw their 2025 WNBA title odds trimmed from +12500 to +3500 at BetMGM when the news broke that Plum is coming to Los Angeles.

The deal cannot be made official until Feb. 1, but when it is, it will also see six-time All-Star guard Jewell Loyd get her wish to be traded. Loyd will go from Seattle to the Las Vegas Aces to fill Plum's void.

The Aces' title odds shortened from +280 to +250, while the now-rebuilding Storm went from +1400 to +4000 -- making Seattle the third-largest long shot. Las Vegas, which finished 27-13 and fell short of its quest for a three-peat last season, will also receive the 13th overall pick in this season's draft.

The trade will be the first in league history to involve multiple No. 1 overall selections, according to ESPN.

The Storm (25-15) are to receive the No. 2 pick in this year's draft (from Los Angeles), Las Vegas' first-round pick in 2026, and Sparks forward Li Yueru. Meanwhile, the Sparks will get two draft selections from Seattle: No. 9 this year and the Storm's second round pick in 2026.

2025 WNBA TITLE ODDS*

New York Liberty (+185)

Las Vegas Aces (+250)

Minnesota Lynx (+350)

Indiana Fever (+900)

Connecticut Sun (+1100)

Los Angeles Sparks (+3500)

Seattle Storm (+4000)

Phoenix Mercury (+5000)

Atlanta Dream (+6000)

Chicago Sky (+6600)

Dallas Wings (+8000)

Washington Mystics (+10000)

Golden State Valkyries (+20000)

*BetMGM

The Fever remain the biggest liability at the book, leading all teams with 44.4 percent of the total bets and 63.3 percent of the money backing them to win the title. The Sparks are now the second biggest liability, having drawn 4.1 percent of the money.

The Aces are second to the Fever in both total bets (8.3 percent) and money (10.2 percent).

Las Vegas star A'ja Wilson leads the MVP odds at +175, followed by Indiana's Caitlin Clark (+240), Minnesota's Napheesa Collier (+650) and New York's Breanna Stewart (+750).

--Field Level Media