On their quest for a fifth WNBA championship, the Minnesota Lynx look like an absolute machine. Tuesday’s game against the Washington Mystics is another chance to prove that.
They have a full contending roster at their disposal. Napheesa Collier is on her way to an MVP award. Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams are excellent starters on the star borderline. Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard, and Natisha Hiedeman complete a strong rotation. This Lynx squad has a great chance to pull the Commissioner’s Cup Championship and WNBA Championship this season.
Washington has no such aspirations. The Mystics have acquired good young talent in the second year of a rebuild and may return to the playoffs. Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron have brought a lot of promise to this team. It’s given them a big shot in the arm, and that was on display in their last game.
They won’t be on the level of the Lynx anytime soon, but it’s a great start to their next era.
The Lynx are six-point favorites on the road and are -278 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 158 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Lynx vs. Mystics Prediction
The big question in this game surrounds Napheesa Collier. Minnesota’s MVP favorite missed her last game and is questionable for Tuesday’s contest. Her presence would go a long way towards tipping the scales. Minnesota is 2-0 without her this season, so it can pull this off if she is ruled out. But it will have a significant effect on the spread.
I’m picking the Lynx in this one, with or without Collier. But the question of the spread is another matter entirely.
Lynx vs. Mystics Pick
Minnesota Lynx -6 (-110)
The possibility that Collier could be out keeps the line from getting out of hand. My gut tells me Collier will be ready to come back, and the line creeps up a couple more points before tipoff. That gives us an opportunity to get a favorable spread.
This Lynx defense should suffocate a Mystics offense that lacks depth. On the perimeter, they can chase around Brittney Sykes and Sonia Citron all day. Collier will give rookie Kiki Iriafen a rude “welcome to the WNBA” lesson down low. As if the talent gap wasn’t enough, the matchup does not favor Washington. The Lynx will have a double-digit victory if Collier plays. If she unexpectedly sits, they’re more than capable of covering.
