You couldn’t find a more lopsided matchup in the WNBA if you tried. The Minnesota Lynx enter this one tied for the best record in the league at 8-0; the Dallas Wings are last at 1-8.
Everything is going as planned for Minnesota. Napheesa Collier looks like an MVP, Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith are steadying presences, and it’s working Kayla McBride back into the swing of things after her injury. Minnesota boasts a top-three offense and defense in the early season. It seems like clear favorites to represent the Western Conference in the Finals for a second straight season.
Things are certainly not going to plan for Dallas. Getting Paige Bueckers was a considerable coup, but they still have work to do. The defense is messy, Arike Ogunbowale and Bueckers are still figuring out sharing the offensive load, and the depth needs work. I doubt they expected to contend any time soon, let alone being a serious playoff team, but little improvement on last year’s 9-31 record would be concerning.
The Lynx are nine-point favorites on the road and are -440 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 169 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Prediction for Lynx vs. Wings
It feels impossible to pick the Wings in this one. They don’t have the offensive firepower to get through this tough Minnesota defense, or the individual defenders to handle Phee. It’s a tough equation all around.
There’s a world where Paige and Arike can hand out enough buckets to win this one, but I’m not counting on it. This is too much talent and experience for them to overcome.
Pick for Lynx vs. Wings
Minnesota Lynx -9 (-112)
Even for a road contest, I’m surprised double digits don’t favor Minnesota. They’re the vastly superior team and have a clean bill of health going into this one. The Lynx defense can swarm on you quickly, and a team like Dallas, struggling to find an identity, will have issues.
On top of that, nobody has an answer for Napheesa Collier right now. She’s overwhelming even the best of defenders. Dallas doesn’t have an answer for her skill on both ends of the floor. It’s a bad matchup for a struggling team, and a great matchup for what is easily the best team in the Western Conference. I’m taking Minnesota all the way here.
