The WNBA starts Friday night with their 17^th season of women's basketball. With a new collective bargaining agreement the league has provided a solid future, and the WNBA always makes the summer nicer with positive betting opportunities. Just this weekend alone you will be able to bet 11 WNBA games starting Friday night, and this should be another outstanding WNBA season.

William Hill just posted their 2014 WNBA Futures, and I will quickly break down each team with their WNBA Championship odds.

Minnesota Lynx - 7/5 (2013 Champion)
(Last Year: SU 33-8, ATS 28-13)

Minnesota swept the Atlanta Dream last year in the WNBA Finals, and the Lynx have won two out of three WNBA Finals. This team will still roll as the Lynx core players haven't changed: Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. The Minnesota Lynx will be a tough team again and they should be the favorite to win it all.

Los Angeles Sparks - 7/2

(Last Year: SU 25-12, ATS 14-23)

The LA Sparks, or we can call the girls the LA Magic since the ownership group is led by Magic Johnson, should be and will be one of the top teams in the league. Not only do the Sparks have Parker, Ogwumike and Toliver, but they also added Candice Wiggins. This squad will produce plenty of points, and if they can play good team defense then they can be a big challenge to Minnesota.

Chicago Sky - 4/1

(Last Year: SU 24-12, ATS 20-16)

This was the best team in the East last year, and it will repeat that feat this year. Elena Delle Donne exploded in the league her rookie year, and she will be a force this year once again. The Sky is a deeper team this year, and their bench play will give them the boost to produce another 20-plus win season.

Phoenix Mercury - 10/1

(Last Year: SU 21-18, ATS 16-22-1)

The talent that Phoenix has on the floor they should not be 10/1 to win it all. Brittney Griner struggled last year on the floor and with injuries, but Diana Taurasi was still Diana Taurasi. This team will go far as long as Taurasi will take them. A new roster of ladies and a healthy Griner should make for a very interesting Phoenix season. This may be a sleeper team!

Atlanta Dream - 12/1

(Last Year: SU 21-21, ATS 20-21-1)

Michael Cooper is now the head coach, and I see big improvement with him on the bench. The Dream still has the best scorer in the league with Angel McCoughtry, and the Dream added Swin Cash to the team, which should provide more leadership and scoring. Atlanta will be a tough team this season, and 12/1 seems a bit high and could be a nice bet.

Seattle Storm - 18/1

(Last Year: SU 17-19, ATS 19-16-1)

Here is a team that has the names to compete, but the injury bug always bites the Seattle Storm. Sue Bird is back after missing all of last year, but again there will be no Lauren Jackson for a second straight season. Seattle drafted well with Bria Hartley, and I was shocked last year that they made the playoffs. They should make the playoffs again, but to compete for a WNBA Championship is highly doubtful.

Washington Mystics - 20/1

(Last Year: SU 18-19, ATS 20-17)

Washington will probably have the youngest starting five in the league, so I expect some ups and downs in the beginning. Hopefully their veterans can groom the young ones, and the Mystics should be a different team towards the end of the season.

New York Liberty - 22/1

(Last Year: SU 11-23, ATS 15-19)

The Liberty is back in Madison Square Garden, and they will go as far as their defense will take them. Tina Charles comes back home as she was traded to the Liberty on draft day, and she will provide some leadership in the locker room. This team could be either a surprise team in the league or a complete disaster.

San Antonio Silver Stars - 22/1

(Last Year: SU 12-22, ATS 17-17)

OK, here is my sleeper team of the season! No, they are not winning the title, but they should much improved from last year. Last year the Stars played without Becky Hammon and Sophia Young-Malcolm, but this year both are back and healthy. Rookie Kayla McBride will provide a spark as well, and I see at least 17 or more wins for the Silver Stars.

Connecticut Sun - 25/1

(Last Year: SU 10-24, ATS 15-19)

The Connecticut Sun was horrible last year, and that's why this roster was gutted. New faces should provide more then 10-wins, but not that much. This team is very young, and this season I don't see them making any noise or a playoff run.

Indiana Fever - 25/1

(Last Year: 18-20, ATS 17-21)

The only thing that the Fever have going for them is that they have Tamika Catchings. The backcourt of the Fever is young and fast, and if they play defense they could be a big surprise in the East. Too bad the East is a better conference this year than last year.

Tulsa Shock - 30/1

(Last Year: 11-23, ATS 18-15-1)

Odyssey Sims will be looked at to make this team better than last year. Sorry, Sims, for the pressure. Tulsa is also hoping Skylar Diggins has a break out year because she could also take some pressure off Sims as well. Tulsa will be a bit better than last year, but again this team is very young and very inexperienced.

Last year we had a monster WNBA season as $100 bettors made close to $4,000, and we easily cashed our Game of the Year with Seattle. Big-unit plays were our bread and butter last year going 10-3 in 5-Unit-or-higher plays, and this season we look for another profitable WNBA Season.

Raphael Esparza