The New York Liberty are no strangers to the WNBA Finals, having played in them just last season.
What is new, however, is that the Liberty will begin the series at home and as the favorites. New York posted the best record in the W during the regular season and has knocked off both the Atlanta Dream and defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the playoffs.
This is New York's sixth trip to the WNBA Finals, but the franchise is still searching for its first title. If this is going to be the year, winning Game 1 over the Minnesota Lynx would be a great start.
New York Liberty Game 1 Odds vs. Minnesota Lynx
| 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 | -260 |
- Liberty vs. Lynx Spread: Liberty -6.5
- Liberty vs. Lynx Over/Under: 159.5 points
- Liberty Moneyline: Liberty –260
Why The New York Liberty Can Cover In Game 1
All season long, the Liberty looked like the team to beat, with a diverse and consistent offense that was paired with an elite defense. The team's depth has been evident in the postseason, where four players — Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich — are averaging in double figures for points.
Ionescu has led the way with 20.7 points per game, which is more than two points per game better than her regular season average. Meanwhile Stewart, who led the team with 20.4 points per game during the regular season, is at 20.0 over six playoff games.
Stewart, in the playoffs, is also leading the team with 5.2 assists per game, a stat Stewart also led the Liberty in during the regular season.
Stewart is second behind Jones with 8.2 rebounds per game, with the latter pulling down 8.7 boards per playoff game. The rookie Fiebich and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton round out the team's starting five. Fiebich has raised her scoring average in the postseason while Laney-Hamilton's has dipped, but each has contributed in a major way to the team's success.
Put it all together and you have a team that finished the regular season with the W's best offensive rating and has the third-best rank in the playoffs, behind the swept-out-of-the-first-round Phoenix Mercury and the Lynx. New York's defensive rating, which was third-best during the regular season, ranks first in the playoffs.
The Liberty also boast the top rebounding percentage in the playoffs and have the postseason's second-best defensive rebound percentage. New York is well ahead of Minnesota, who is sitting at No. 8 (of 8) in both categories.
Lynx vs. Liberty: Back Jones in Game 1
The Liberty are favored to win this game and series for a reason, and that is because they have proven to be the deepest and most-balanced team in the league. They're facing a tough test in the Lynx, but if there's one area Minnesota has really struggled in this season it's controlling the glass. That happens to be one of New York's strengths, and Jones, who has pulled down at least eight rebounds in three of six playoff games, should take advantage.
Pick: Jonquel Jones To Record 8+ Rebounds (-205)
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.
