Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers Drive WNBA Betting Frenzy Ahead of 2025 Season

Michael Conroy | AP Photo

As the 2025 WNBA season approaches, two young stars are at the center of growing fan interest and betting activity: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers. Both players have become major storylines heading into the season, with Clark emerging as the preseason favorite for Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Bueckers leading the Rookie of the Year (ROY) race. Clark, entering her second season, is listed as the +200 favorite to win MVP according to ESPN BET, down from her opening line of +300. Her primary competition includes three-time and reigning MVP A’ja Wilson (+235) and 2024 runner-up Napheesa Collier (+400). Despite Wilson’s dominance in recent years, Clark’s meteoric rise and massive public support have catapulted her to the top of the odds boards.

The betting surge surrounding Clark is unprecedented for a second-year player. At ESPN BET, she accounts for more than 50% of all MVP tickets and nearly 78% of the total handle. DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello commented, “She’s not some big underdog, her odds are low, so I don’t think we’re going to get hurt too bad [if she ends up winning". However, the bigger risk may lie with Indiana as a team, with sportsbooks labeling the Fever as their “biggest liability by a wide margin” due to heavy public backing.

Indiana’s offseason moves, including the acquisitions of DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, are expected to boost the team into the league’s upper echelon. Caesars Sportsbook analyst David Lieberman stated that if the Fever close the win-gap with Las Vegas, it could solidify Clark’s MVP case. Since 2022, each WNBA MVP winner was the preseason favorite, putting history on Clark’s side. Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick out of UConn, is favored to win Rookie of the Year at -225. Though less dominant than Clark’s -750 odds entering 2024, Bueckers is still drawing considerable betting volume. “The bettors know Bueckers and so that’s who they’re isolating on,” Avello said. She is expected to make an immediate scoring impact in Dallas.

However, Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick from France, is emerging as a dark horse in the ROY race. With odds of +450, Malonga accounts for 44.4% of all ROY bets and an impressive 70.9% of handle at ESPN BET. Lieberman believes her combination of size and pro experience could lead to standout defensive stats, which might narrow the gap with Bueckers. The 2025 WNBA season promises a competitive landscape both on the court and in sportsbooks, with rising talent and fan engagement pushing the league into a new era of popularity. Clark and Bueckers are not only future stars—they are already shaping the narrative of a rapidly evolving league.