WNBA playoffs betting roundtable - Betting tips for first round, futures - ESPN

The 2024 WNBA playoffs tip off Sunday with every postseason team in action. The top-seeded New York Liberty chase their first championship as they host the No. 8 seed Atlanta Dream at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. At 3 p.m. ET, rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever take on the No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun on ABC.

At 5 p.m. ET, the No. 7 seed Phoenix Mercury take on the second-seeded Minnesota Lynx on ESPN, before a 10 p.m. ET nightcap on ESPN when the fourth-seeded Las Vegas Aces begin the hunt for their third-straight championship as they take on the No. 5 seed Seattle Storm.

To get the playoffs started, we've asked ESPN WNBA betting analysts Jennifer La Croix, Eric Moody, Liz Loza and Andre Snellings for their best bets for the first round and for the entire playoffs.

Odds are accurate as of time of publication. For latest odds, go to ESPN BET.

Total games in series over 2.5 (Even): Indiana will win a game and could possibly steal the series from Connecticut. The Fever were 1-3 against the Sun in the regular season and won the most recent meeting. The Fever went 9-5 after the Olympic break, the fourth-best record in the league trailing only the Lynx (13-2), Liberty (11-4), and Aces (11-5). Indiana's offense has been on fire since the break averaging a league best in points (90.9), 3-pointers per game (10.9) and 3-point percentage (40%). — LaCroix

Sun 2-1 (+290) over the Fever: Though many will point out the 203-game gap in playoff experience between Indiana and Connecticut, which is the fifth largest in postseason history, I don't believe this series will be a cakewalk for the Sun. The Fever's up-tempo style could push the Sun to three games. The Sun have the league's best defense, but the Fever have