Saturday’s loaded WNBA slate starts out with a first vs. worst matchup. After picking back-to-back in the 2026 draft, the Storm and Lynx are headed in two very different directions. Minnesota is on top of the Western Conference, while Seattle is all the way at the bottom. Will the allure of the Commissioner’s Cup play shake up this matchup?
Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET. The Lynx are 13.5-point home favorites with -800 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Storm upset is priced at +550, with the game total set at O/U 159.5 points.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Storm-Lynx game.
Storm vs. Lynx Preview
Seattle’s rebuild is going to plan so far. After losing four-fifths of its starting lineup in the offseason, the Storm had a convenient path to a rebuild. They already had Dominique Malonga in the fold, and managed to add Awa Fam and Flau’jae Johnson in the 2026 draft. While the offense has taken a nose-dive with their veterans gone and a new coach at the helm, their defense remains very strong.
Fifth in the league in defensive rating, the Storm have shown an incredible ability to weather injuries. Malonga and Ezi Magbegor have combined to miss 19 out of 22 possible games, and yet they go on. Flau’jae has brought the defense in the backcourt, while Jordan Horston has been a defensive revelation. Fam is still working on her technical skills, but at 6’4″ with incredible length and athleticism, her raw talent papers over a lot of those issues. Stefanie Dolson continues to provide defensive value in the frontcourt as well. When Magbegor and Malonga get healthy (the latter is likely to play Saturday), head coach Sonia Raman has an interesting rotation to figure out.
For the Lynx, it’s all about Olivia Miles. The second overall pick has hit the ground running, propelling Minnesota to an 8-2 record while having the best offensive rating in the league. The Lynx lead the league in two-point percentage and are second in three-point percentage, while Miles leads them in points and assists. She has been nothing short of prolific operating out of the pick-and-roll. Forget Rookie of the Year—we’re looking at a potential MVP candidate here.
As if this level of offensive excellence wasn’t enough, Minnesota also leads the league in defensive rating. Their veteran quartet of starters surrounding Miles—Kayla McBride, Natasha Howard, Courtney Williams, and Nia Coffey—has all provided elite defense. Maya Caldwell has also been a strong defensive chess piece for head coach Cheryl Miller’s bench. It’s insane to think that this team is going to add Napheesa Collier, a back-to-back MVP runner-up, in a month. If you root for one of the other WNBA teams, it’s time for the acceptance stage.
Now we have a good idea what to expect from these teams. Who is going to come out the winner?
Storm vs. Lynx Pick, Best Bet
Malonga’s return to the lineup certainly makes things interesting. No team can fully contain her two-way presence in the paint. But coming off concussion protocol, I don’t expect her to play enough to swing the outcome of this game. Minnesota’s veteran defense is going to put the screws to this young Seattle offense, and they have the offensive talents to solve the Storm. This should be a comfortable home win, moving to 3-0 in Commissioner’s Cup play.
