The Lynx are hosting the Valkyries on Monday night. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Minnesota is favored by 5.5 points and this game carries a total of 160.5 points.
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Lynx vs. Valkyries Preview
The Lynx and Valkyries sit atop the standings with the playoffs only a few weeks away. Minnesota is 31-7 and leads the league in net rating at +10.7 while the Valkyries are 25-11 and rank second in net rating at +7.8. Minnesota ranks second in both offensive in defensive rating, whereas Golden State leads the WNBA in defensive rating, but ranks seventh in offensive rating.
Monday is the third and final matchup of the season between these squads and the Lynx are 2-0 in this season series, despite both matchups being in Golden State. The first tilt was a tight contest on June 19th, 81-75, but the second game was an easier win for Minnesota just this past Wednesday, 77-66.
With rookie phenom Olivia Miles and superstar Napheesa Collier at the helm, the Lynx are the clear favorites to win it all – they are a -105 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook to win the championship. Minnesota is 9-1 since Collier made her season debut in July after recovering from offseason ankle surgery and the team is an elite +15.1 in net rating with both Collier and Miles on the floor.
That lone loss with Collier in the lineup came against the Sparks and felt like a random off night for the Lynx. Impressively, this is the only time in Minnesota’s last 17 games that they have been defeated.
Following the loss to the Lynx last Wednesday, the Valkyries didn’t bounce back, losing to the Sky on their home floor this past Friday, 73-70. Chicago has been much better as of late, winning three in a row and six of its last 10, but nonetheless, the Sky are a lottery bound team that Golden State should have beaten. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Valkyries were a 9.5-point favorite for this matchup.
Golden State’s defense remained sharp in these last two losses, giving up just 77 and 73 points, but the team’s offense struggled, producing only 66 and 70 points. The Valkyries’ offense going through poor stretches like this is the squad’s biggest concern with the playoffs quickly approaching.
Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton and Janelle Salaun all are solid scorers, but none are true difference makers on the offensive end. The Valkyries will need all three of these players to produce at a high level for them to have a chance at beating the Lynx on their home floor and that obviously will be a real challenge against this stout Minnesota defense. Make no mistake, though, the Valkyries are still a great team, that had won six straight before this recent two-game skid and they should put up a fight in this matchup.
Lynx vs. Valkyries Pick, Best Bet
While the Lynx and Valkyries sit next to each other in the standings, the talent gap between these teams is rather large. Minnesota has beaten Golden State twice already on its home floor and now, the Lynx will be the host.
The Lynx being favored by only 5.5 points is surprising and they are a fantastic bet to cover this number. Minnesota won the first two matchups between these teams by six and 11 points, and the Lynx are a league-best 23-15 ATS this season.
