BetMGM data reveals “historic increases” in WNBA bets as 2023 total already surpassed
Betting on the WNBA at BetMGM is more popular than ever, with the Indiana Fever team and ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’ inspiring a significant increase in wagers placed
BetMGM findings have revealed the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is more popular than ever before amid a surge in betting activity on the top-tier of US women’s basketball.
Michael Ranftle, BetMGM senior sports trader, outlined just how remarkable the rise in popularity has been: “BetMGM has already taken as many bets for the first half of the 2024 season as we did for all of 2023.
“Between more player prop offerings, the ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’, and the incredible rise in popularity of the WNBA, we’re experiencing historic increases in betting on the WNBA.”
BetMGM data highlighted there has been nearly three times as many bets placed on the first half of the WNBA season this term year on year (YOY).
The data also found that more than double the number of women placed wagers on the league within the first half of this campaign compared to the same period last season.
Currently, Caitlin Clark is undeniably the WNBA’s brightest star and the betting data further supports that theory.
The Indiana Fever basketball team’s talent has been the subject of nearly five times more player prop bets than any other talent in the division, in the first half of the calendar, with Chicago Sky ace Angel Reese the closest contender.
Clark’s Indiana Fever are the most backed outfit in the league, with 21.6% of all BetMGM wagers for the championship backing the Fever to win the competition.
It is a similar story for Clark individually, with 54.9% of all betslips and 43.9% of handle placed on the 22-year-old to be named MVP.
The WNBA’s relationship with gambling continues to go from strength to strength as just last week Boston-based giant DraftKings was unveiled as the league’s second official sports betting and daily fantasy partner.
As a result, DraftKings now boasts the rights to both league and collective team intellectual property, as well as gaining access to marketing, activation, and hospitality opportunities related to the league’s most high-profile events, including the AT&T WNBA All-Star game.
Alongside DraftKings, the WNBA also considers FanDuel an official sports betting partner as an extension of the daily fantasy sports deal penned with the operator back in 2022.
In May of this year, FanDuel was also named an official sports betting partner of Indiana Fever.
As a result of the partnership, FanDuel’s branding is featured on in-arena LED signage as well as the Fever’s social media, while the FanDuel logo boasts premier placement on the Fever court baseline for most home fixtures.
At the time, Jennifer Matthews, vice-president of brand strategy at FanDuel, remarked: “We are thrilled to partner with the Indiana Fever and look forward to engaging their passionate fans with our industry-leading product.
“As an official sportsbook partner of the WNBA, we’re already seeing unprecedented levels of excitement for this season from our customers, and we can’t wait to support the Fever all season long.”