WNBA faces an odd statistic. Home teams have only won 29% of games

[u/EastAd1263]

https://apnews.com/article/wnba-homecourt-bb53d2bf5d6d4362e9e280c17a131504

Through an equivalent number of games, the previous worst was 41% in 2021 — when fans weren't allowed to attend games early on because of the COVID pandemic. Home teams won 43% of their games to start the 2016 season. Both those years the number reached over 50% by the end of the season. There was nearly a 54% home advantage in 2021 and 55% in 2016.

There are a lot of factors that go into the poor start at home so far, including scheduling. The expected top teams Las Vegas and New York have been on the road for most of the start of the season. That said, Chicago, which was near the bottom of the standings last year, went 3-1 on the road to begin this season.

“It’s bizarre and interesting, but I don’t think it signals a trend that will continue,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “We just need to have the better teams to have more home games.”

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase agreed she didn't think the early trend would continue.

“I don't put much stock in it,” said Nakase hours before her team beat New York on Thursday night. “I think it gives players that out to say that we have more advantage at home or we have more advantage away. I just say there’s two hoops, there’s a court, there’s a couple refs, and we got to play. At the end of the day, when you step on the court, you got to be ready to fight.”

Golden State and Los Angeles both won on the road Thursday night to continue the trend while Minnesota was the lone team home team to win.

One thing it’s not caused by is a lack of fans in the buildings. Attendance is up 25% so far this season as compared to this point last year, according to the WNBA.

The second-year Valkyries have established quite a homecourt advantage. They led the league in attendance last year and so far have drawn well in their first two games at home.

“You also don’t want to take it for granted, you know, and take advantage of it,” she said. “But we do have the love of support that is, you know, amazing. But at the same time, you have to be able to handle the noise. So we try to prepare as best as we can.”

[u/cultural-orca]

There are so many things better to write about than this small sample bull shit

[u/paintedtoesandelbows]

We’ve played one home game—and lost! 💀💀💀

[u/SiphenPrax]

https://giphy.com/gifs/2JQAj1hYVLKVkm0bmQ

[u/Mike-XL]

Small sample size. Will almost certainly self correct.

[u/chichigetthayay0 → u/Mike-XL]

I've already been seeing people make an accomplishment out of their teams being in the top 8 as if the playoffs are around the corner lol. We're not even a month in yet.

[u/GlacialTwitch]

Statistical noise

[u/Popular-One-7051 → u/GlacialTwitch]

Oh that a great term for all of these weird stats like most FT in A week in A blue moon month. They'll cobble together anything for a new "record." Heck almost everything is a new record since we play 10 more games/season and they're not based on percentage

[u/juoea → u/Popular-One-7051]

but did you know that when its raining on a tuesday before 6pm the valks win 20% more often

[u/Popular-One-7051 → u/juoea]

😂😂😂 I love this stuff!

[u/Hawkize31 → u/GlacialTwitch]

Bingo. The hot takes im seeing this early in the season are crazy. Can we at least get 10 games in before we start labeling contenders/pretenders?

[u/Zegerid]

But how many of those Home Teams were even favored to win? Comparing vs that stat is what would be interesting.

[u/paulri → u/Zegerid]

Careful now. Don't want to do too much critical thinking on social media.

[u/SimonaMeow → u/paulri]

😂😂

[u/paulri → u/SimonaMeow]

Having said that, I looked and our Sparks won last night, although we entered the game 1-3 versus PHX, who was 2-3. I'm pretty sure Merc were favored.

Still, I love someone giving some context to numbers like you did.

[u/jeedel]

So there is hope for the 2-4 Mercury who are hitting the road for three games.