These two teams are getting very familiar with each other at this point. Friday marks the third matchup in 11 days between the Lynx and Sky, with the season series currently split 1-1. The difference now, though, is momentum. Minnesota has won three straight, while Chicago has dropped three in a row since losing Rickea Jackson to a torn ACL.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota comes in as a 5.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total sitting at 170.5.
Let’s get into it!
Lynx vs. Sky Preview
Minnesota has looked like one of the most complete teams in the league lately, and honestly, everything seems to be clicking at once. The Lynx own one of the best defensive ratings in the WNBA at 101.2 while also averaging 89.7 points per game, fourth-best in the league. They’re also shooting a ridiculous 51.4% from the field, which currently leads the league. The most impressive part is how balanced everything looks offensively. In Wednesday’s win over Atlanta, all five starters scored in double figures while Minnesota shot 60% from the field and finished with a season-high 26 assists. The ball movement has been sharp, the spacing looks clean, and they’re not relying on one player to carry the offense every night.
That said, Natasha Howard has absolutely been the engine lately. She’s averaging 24 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists over her last two games and continues to impact basically every area of the floor. Olivia Miles has also looked incredibly comfortable running the offense as a rookie, averaging 15.1 points and 5.9 assists while playing with way more poise than you’d expect this early in her career. Courtney Williams is coming off a 25-point, 7-assist game herself, and collectively, this roster just has a lot of different ways to pressure defenses right now.
Chicago, meanwhile, is still competing hard, but the loss of Rickea Jackson has clearly changed things. Since Jackson went down against Minnesota on May 17, the Sky have dropped three straight games, and the defense especially has taken a hit. Chicago is allowing 87.3 points per game over that stretch while also giving up the most rebounds per game in the league.
The offense has still managed to produce, averaging 89.3 points over the last three games, but the margin for error feels much smaller now. Jacy Sheldon continues to create disruption defensively, and Gabriela Jaquez has adjusted well early, but without Jackson’s scoring and versatility, this roster looks thinner offensively and less physical defensively. And that’s a problem against a Minnesota team that’s playing this confidently right now.
Lynx vs. Sky Pick
Minnesota is simply playing better basketball. The Lynx have more offensive balance, more defensive consistency, and they’re entering this matchup with significantly more momentum than Chicago.