Trade $25, Get $55 in Bonus Funds CODE: SBR55

Liberty vs. Aces Prediction, Picks & Odds: Will New York Respond in Game 2 of WNBA Finals?

Check out our top Liberty vs. Aces prediction and picks for Wednesday's WNBA Finals matchup in Las Vegas.

Shane Thurston

Last Updated: September 11, 2024 2:52 PM EDT • 5 minute read

Enjoying SBR content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account

The Las Vegas Aces holds a 1-0 edge over the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals with Game 2 slated for Wednesday night in Sin City, as we make our top Liberty-Aces prediction based on the best WNBA odds. Expect New York guard Sabrina Ionescu to shine in Game 2 of the 2023 WNBA Finals.

The Aces reminded everyone why they are the defending champs - and why they were favorites by the WNBA Championship odds for much of the season - with a 99-82 thumping of the New York Liberty in Sunday's Game 1 of the 2023 WNBA Finals.

There's yet to be a meeting between these teams this season that's been decided by less than nine points, and they've split the head-to-head series 3-3.

New York needs to respond in Game 2 before heading back home in this five-game set, and we are counting on guard Sabrina Ionescu to help lead that charge.

Here is our best Liberty-Aces prediction for Game 2 (odds via our best sports betting apps; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Liberty vs. Aces prediction: WNBA Finals Game 2

Sabrina Ionescu Over 15.5 points (-115 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

None of these Liberty-Aces matchups have been particularly close in 2023, with five of the six meetings resulting in a double-digit victory. The average margin of victory between these two teams has been 18.6 points. So, if you want to take a side, consider the Liberty's moneyline price or an alternate spread for the Aces.

My preferred angle is to focus on the adjustments. For New York, that means adjusting the backcourt rotation to better combat the firepower of Las Vegas' guards. This means we should see less of Courtney Vandersloot and more of Marine Johannes, as the latter has more offensive punch than the former. That switch was made a bit in Game 1, with Vandersloot being reduced to 26 minutes while Johannes scored 14 points in nearly 20 minutes of action.

But what that change really means is more offensive responsibility on Ionescu, particularly with starting certain actions. It could open the door to attack her assist prop of 4.5, but I prefer counting on Ionescu's scoring prowess instead.

Ionescu finished with just seven points on 2-for-7 shooting in Game 1, which simply isn't enough shots for her. Credit to Jackie Young and the Las Vegas defense for not giving Ionescu much room, but I expect that will be a point of emphasis for New York head coach Sandy Brondello in Game 2.

In the first regular-season meeting against Las Vegas in late June, Ionescu was held to just seven points and was a liability on the defensive end. The Liberty responded, and Ionescu scored 31 points in the very next meeting in August. Ionescu proceeded to average 22.5 points per contest over the final four regular-season matchups against the Aces.

Perhaps the Liberty don't have the level of offensive firepower to keep pace with the Aces in this five-game series, but I do know they have absolutely no shot without Ionescu performing much better than she did in Game 1.

Not intended for use in MA
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook

Visit our Google News page and click "Follow" (⭐) for the latest odds, picks and news!

Liberty vs. Aces best odds

bet365 (-115)

DraftKings	FanDuel	BetMGM	Caesars	bet365
Over 16.5 points	Over 16.5 points	N/A	Over 16.5 points	Over 15.5 points
-105	+106	N/A	+110	-115

Of all our best sports betting sites offering player props as of this writing, bet365 has the lowest scoring prop for Ionescu at 15.5. I wouldn't fault anyone for taking the plus-money prices on Over 16.5 points, but I'll settle for the extra point of safety given how often these games have turned into blowouts.

That said, bet365 is offering a +235 price on Ionescu to finish with 20-plus points. I'd be willing to sprinkle an additional half-unit bet on that for more upside.

Editor's note: This line has since been bumped up to 16.5 across the board, but the Over is still the preferred play for Game 2.

Liberty vs. Aces game info

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Liberty-Aces pick made 10/09/2023 at 2:15 p.m. ET.

Kentucky bettors: Sports betting is here!

Kentucky sports betting launched on Sept. 28 - so sign up with the best Kentucky sportsbook promos now! And check out our list of the best Kentucky sports betting apps!

21+ and present in KY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

WNBA betting odds pages

WNBA Championship Odds

WNBA MVP Odds

Here are our best sports betting apps:

Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)

Written by:
Shane Thurston

Shane Thurston has been writing for Sportsbook Review since 2022, though his passion for sports, writing, and betting runs much longer than that. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a journalism degree in 2017 and has been covering sports ever since, working for MLB.com, Manhattan Mercury, Lawrence Journal-World, WynnBET, Bet Chicago Sports, BetNOLA, and BetMGM. Thurston cares about creating quality sports betting content above all else. He uses NFL experience, a mixture of models, information, film, analysis, and a top-down approach to locate every best bet shared for SBR. He never gives out a pick that he wouldn’t be willing to spend his own money on. Thurston is focused on finding +EV bets on a daily basis for a variety of sports such as NCAAF, NCAAB, NFL, NBA, WNBA, and MLB. He usually bets on props but is willing to wager on a spread or total when there is an edge. Don’t ask him how many bets he has placed on a typical college football Saturday. Thurston doesn’t care if you follow him on social media, but his Twitter account has info on how you can follow his bets through multiple third-party platforms. He just wants you to read all the great work from the SBR team.