Aces vs Storm Odds: Las Vegas Seeks to Maintain Record Start

The Las Vegas Aces, owners of the WNBA’s best record, will return from the All-Star break Thursday to visit the Seattle Storm.

Halfway through the season, Las Vegas is in prime position to become the league’s first repeat champion since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks. Most teams haven’t come close to beating them. Will they maintain their dominance over the next few months?

Las Vegas is an 18.5-point favorite after opening at -17.5. It is also -2000 to win outright, with Seattle priced at +1100. The projected total remains at 170.5. Read on as we assess the Aces vs Storm odds.

Star Power

Veteran guard Jewell Loyd has been a bright spot in an otherwise trying season for the Seattle Storm. The former No. 1 overall pick leads the WNBA in both points (25.7) and 3-pointers (3.7) per game. She also ranks third in minutes (35.1) and 12th in 3-point percentage (40.5).

Loyd stole the show at Saturday’s All-Star Game in Las Vegas, pouring in a record 31 points to collect Most Valuable Player honors. She hit nine 3-pointers and one 4-point shot, leading Team Stewart to a 143-127 victory over Team Wilson. The previous All-Star scoring record was 30 points, shared by Maya Moore in 2015 and Kelsey Plum in 2022.

Despite Loyd’s brilliance, the Storm have been a mere afterthought much of this season. It’s essentially what was expected following the departures of superstars Sue Bird (retired) and Breanna Stewart (signed with New York in free agency). Losers of seven straight and nine of 10, the Storm own the league’s worst record (4-16) at the midway point. They’ve been outscored by an average of 7.3 points, second-most among WNBA teams behind the Phoenix Mercury.

The Storm set off their rebuild in April, drafting former Tennessee star Jordan Horston ninth overall. Horston has flashed potential, averaging 7.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 17 games (five starts). However, it’ll take significantly more work for Seattle to get back to contention in the coming years. That’s the harsh reality.

Top of the Class

The distance between the Las Vegas Aces and the rest of the pack continues to grow. Las Vegas rolled into the All-Star break at 19-2, 3.5 games ahead of the New York Liberty for the WNBA’s best record. As such, the Aces have solidified themselves as the prohibitive favorite to repeat at -290.

Can anyone stop them? Maybe, but it’s hard to see that happening. The Aces’ offense, led by four former No. 1 picks, is shaping up to be the best ever. No, seriously. Las Vegas’ plus-15.4 point differential would easily be the biggest in WNBA history, surpassing the defunct Houston Comets’ record of plus-12.8.

Notably, Las Vegas also has the league’s top-rated defense, which is important to keep in mind when assessing the Aces vs Storm odds. Should that remain, they’d be only the eighth team to lead the WNBA in both offensive and defensive rating in the same season. Six of the previous seven — 1998-00 Comets, 2014 Phoenix Mercury, 2017 Minnesota Lynx and 2020 Storm — went on to become WNBA champions that year, with the 2016 Lynx being the lone exception.

Four different players are currently scoring in double figures for Las Vegas, led by forward A’ja Wilson. The 6-4 Wilson is averaging 19.7 points on 53.2% shooting. Both figures rank top 10 in the WNBA. Wilson also leads the league in blocks (2.1) and is fifth in rebounding (9.3). She is currently +300 to win her second straight WNBA MVP, behind New York’s Stewart, a -300 favorite.

Handicapping the Game

Las Vegas destroyed the Storm 105-64 in the May 20 opener, then beat them again on Jun. 15, 96-63. The average margin of victory in those games: 37.0 points. Need we say more?

In both meetings, Las Vegas was able to keep Loyd from going off. Loyd averaged a modest 19.5 points and combined to shoot 14-of-43 (32.5%). Without another star by her side, the Storm didn’t stand a chance. The Aces overwhelmed them with myriad scoring options, shooting better than 54% from the floor both times.

The Aces are unquestionably the WNBA’s best team. The Storm are among the worst. Sometimes, it’s that cut and dry. This is a major mismatch. Las Vegas is an easy double-digit favorite in the Aces vs Storm odds.

For WNBA predictions, betting odds, analysis and more, visit pointspreads.com

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