It took all five games of their semifinal series against Connecticut, but the Minnesota Lynx were ultimately able to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017, when they secured their fourth championship in a seven-season stretch.
Now, the Lynx will face their biggest challenge yet — the high-powered New York Liberty, who are led by Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart.
Can the Lynx find a way to make this a competitive series against the seemingly unbeatable Liberty? Keep reading my Minnesota Lynx team preview for WNBA Finals Game 1 and find out!
Minnesota Lynx Game 1 Odds vs. New York Liberty
| Lynx Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 159.5 -110 / -110 | +210 |
| Liberty Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 159.5 -110 / -110 | -265 |
- Lynx vs. Liberty Spread: Lynx +6
- Lynx vs. Liberty Over/Under: 159.5 points
- Lynx Moneyline: Lynx +210
Why The Minnesota Lynx Can Cover In Game 1
If we ignore the “punted” regular season finale in which Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride were sidelined to avoid injury, the Lynx have won 19 of their past 22 games.
Minnesota has proven it can beat any type of opponent, regardless of style, pace or talent.
For example, Phoenix had a ridiculous 59.8% true shooting percentage against the Lynx in the first round, yet they still swept the Mercury by putting up more than 100 points in each game.
Further, Minnesota was able to squeeze past a pesky and physical Sun team that has a ton of playoff basketball experience and one of the top-two defenses in the W.
Collier is one of the best players in basketball and has dominated this postseason, posting roughly 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three “stocks” (steals and blocks) per game on an obnoxiously efficient 55/45/88 shooting split.
It is frightening that she has been that efficient, despite a 3-for-14 shooting night from the floor in Game 2 against the Sun.
However, what’s even scarier is the fact that Minnesota was still able to win that game.
The Lynx have consistently found ways to win "ugly games," even when they don’t have their best stuff. And that was also the case during the regular season against New York, as they won two of three matchups.
On any given night, Minnesota can get hot from behind the arc, making it a tough matchup for any opponent. But the Lynx do have their weaknesses, which will need to be addressed ahead of Game 1.
Lynx vs. Liberty: WNBA Finals Game 1 Pick
The Lynx's issues have nothing to do with their talent level or offensive and defensive abilities: They struggle to rebound the ball consistently.
During the postseason, Minnesota has been last in rebounding percentage. The Liberty? They have the highest rebounding percentage and have outrebounded their opponents in all six playoff games.
New York also has a ludicrous net rating of +12.3 this postseason, and has held opponents to just 33.3% shooting from 3-point range on their home floor.
Minnesota will have its moments in this series and could even take the Liberty to five games, but it isn't well-positioned to win Game 1. It will take a full 40 minutes of getting crushed on the glass before the Lynx make the adjustments needed to be competitive.
Pick: New York Liberty -6 (-110, Caesars)
How to Watch Lynx vs. Liberty Game 1
| Liberty vs. Lynx | Thursday, October 10 |
| Start Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN / ESPN+, YouTube TV |
| Location: | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York |
Lynx vs. Liberty is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday.
Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the team with the league's best record this season, the New York Liberty, and Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx is on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+, YouTube TV and other streaming platforms.
