The announcement last week was made in true Las Vegas fashion, boldly and loudly in the heart of the Strip. Representatives from the Aces, MGM Resorts and a local charity placed their hands on a big red button that they together pushed down, and the famous Bellagio fountains suddenly roared behind them as water blasted into the sky.<\/p>\n
They announced a three-year sponsorship between the WNBA team and BetMGM Sportsbook, timed for a news release in which the league reached a similar agreement.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time the WNBA or one of its clubs have partnered with a sports-betting company. The league also has deals with DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel, and Indiana (FanDuel), Phoenix (Bally’s Corporation) and Washington (ESPN Bet) have reached similar agreements in recent years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s long overdue,\u201d said Hall of Fame broadcaster Debbie Antonelli, who has been on the Fever’s announcing team since 2000. \u201cI think it’s a demographic in our base that we have missed. I think that 18- to 36-year-old male that predominately was betting has brought that demographic to our game. I think anything that puts attention on our game in that way is good for our game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The WNBA is the most visible women’s league, but not the only one to do what not long ago was unthinkable and establish a relationship with the sports-betting world. Nearly all leagues avoided such arrangements until the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 allowed states to legalize sports betting if they preferred. That is changing and changing fast, including in women’s sports.<\/p>\n
Last September, the Washington Spirit of the National Women\u2019s Soccer League signed a deal with Fanatics Sportsbook. The 2-year-old Professional Women’s Hockey League agreed in December to a deal with FanDuel.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re seeing growth across all of women\u2019s sports,\u201d said Molly Wurdack-Folt, BetMGM Sportsbook team and league partnerships director. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing viewership increase. We\u2019re seeing attendance increase. But from a sports-betting perspective, specifically, the WNBA is leading the way. Just last year alone, BetMGM saw a 130% increase on bets placed on the W. They are definitely the trailblazers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The WNBA already was on an upward trajectory before the Fever’s Caitlin Clark took it to another level last season. Antonelli refers to it as "Clarkanomics,\u201d and last season’s Rookie of the Year has more than helped the WNBA soar in TV ratings, attendance and, yes, betting.<\/p>\n
Though sports betting is traditionally a male-dominated activity, women are becoming a larger part of that population. That’s at least partially why BetMGM entered into these partnerships and plans to establish become an even larger presence in the WNBA. The sportsbook is offering more betting options this season and for the first time is posting futures odds on the Commissioner’s Cup. Defending league champion New York is the +130 favorite to win the mid-season tournament.<\/p>\n
The announcement at the Bellagio represented a full-circle moment for MGM, the Aces and the WNBA. It was MGM Resorts International that purchased the then-San Antonio Stars in October 2017, moved them to Las Vegas and rebranded the organization. MGM maintained ownership until Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis bought the team in January 2021. And now the two are joined together again, and it was little surprise that Las Vegas-based MGM chose the Aces for its first major partnership with a women’s professional team.
\n\u201cIt almost gives you a different level of credibility,\u201d Aces President Nikki Fargas said. \u201cNot that I didn’t think we were credible, but it gives you a different level of it. I think it’s important for us to be trendsetters. I think it’s important for us to really push for this league to be the best it possibly can be because I think we’ve got the best players in the world playing in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Q: What is the partnership between the Aces and BetMGM Sportsbook?
\nA: The partnership is a three-year sponsorship between the WNBA team and BetMGM Sportsbook.
\nQ: Is this the first time the WNBA has partnered with a sports-betting company?
\nA: No, the league also has deals with DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel.
\nQ: How has the WNBA’s relationship with sports betting changed over time?
\nA: The WNBA and other women’s leagues initially avoided partnerships with sports-betting companies, but this has changed since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting in 2018.
\nQ: What role does the WNBA play in the sports-betting world?
\nA: The WNBA is leading the way in women’s sports in terms of sports betting, with a 130% increase in bets placed on the league last year.
\nQ: How will the partnership between the Aces and BetMGM Sportsbook impact the WNBA?
\nA: The partnership is expected to increase visibility and credibility for the league, and provide more betting options for fans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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