Through four games of the 2023 WNBA season, I think it's fair to ask this question:
Are the Las Vegas Aces the greatest team ever assembled?
Las Vegas has wins by 41, 9, 28 and 21 to start the season, posting an absurd net rating of 28.7.
To put this in perspective, the second-best net rating in the WNBA this season is 8.5 by the New York Liberty.
The Aces are looking to move to 5-0 on the season on Friday when they take on a talented young Atlanta Dream team that is 2-2 through its first four games.
The Dream beat the Chicago Sky by 18 on Tuesday night, but the team finds itself as a double-digit underdog at home against the Aces.
That's how good this Vegas team is. The team has four players scoring in double figures in starters Kelsey Plum, A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. Their fifth starter? Oh, well it's just the legendary Candace Parker.
So, how should we wager on this matchup? First, let's check out the latest odds:
Aces vs. Dream odds, spread and total
Aces vs. Dream prediction and pick
I refuse to bet against this Aces team until it gives me a reason to.
Las Vegas ranks first in offensive rating at 112.9 (No. 2 is the Dallas Wings at 105.8), first in defensive rating at 84.2 (No. 2 is the Washington Mystics at 92.0) and first in effective field goal percentage at 57.0 (No. 2 is the Liberty at 52.1).
That's absolutely insane.
The Aces are just that much better than the rest of the WNBA now, so I can justify them being favored by 11 points on the road.
Atlanta has gotten off to a solid start, ranking fourth in offensive rating, sixth in defensive rating and third in net rating through four games.
Second-year forward Rhyne Howard (17.8 points per game) is well on her way to being one of the league's best players, but I don't know if this young Atlanta squad can hang with the Aces.
Vegas' lone single-digit win came against the Los Angeles Sparks, on the road, but they turned the ball over 20 times (!!) in that matchup.
Unless Atlanta can force that to happen, I wouldn't be shocked in Las Vegas runs away with this game.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.