The 2026 WNBA season is getting on a stable footing, and the drama is heating up. Every team feels like they have a shot right now, including the Minnesota Lynx and the Dallas Wings. The two Western Conference opponents get a chance to size one another up on Thursday night.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Wings are 3.5-point home favorites with -170 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Lynx upset is priced at +142, with the game total set at O/U 177.5 points.

Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Lynx-Wings game.

Lynx vs. Wings Preview

Navigating life without Napheesa Collier is difficult for any team. Add in the offseason losses the Lynx have suffered, and things only get trickier. But Minnesota’s shrewd dealing landed it a top pick in the 2026 draft, and Olivia Miles brings a much-needed injection of young talent to the team. Miles, starting alongside four players in their 30s, is leading the team in scoring and assists in the early going. The TCU product has been a strong complement to Courtney Williams, allowing her to get buckets and get after it defensively without worrying about taking on all the perimeter initiation. The passing is really popping off the screen.

Minnesota still needs to get its DPOY and MVP candidate back in the lineup soon. But it speaks to Miles’ excellence that the Lynx are keeping their heads above water for the time being.

Minnesota’s offseason losses were Dallas’ gain. The Wings managed to poach Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard from the Lynx to add size and defensive depth. Adding that to a team full of backcourt scoring, led by Paige Bueckers, positions them to be a lot more competitive this season. They have several strides to take before we can talk about the Wings as a playoff team, but when you have a player as good as Bueckers, you can’t be ruled out.

Now we have a good idea what to expect from these teams. Who’s coming out on top?

Lynx vs. Wings Pick, Best Bet

The jury’s still out on how much of a change this offseason has wrought for both teams. Minnesota has been elite defensively under Cheryl Reeve the past two seasons, and some dropping is expected, but how far will they fall? Conversely, the Wings have been brutal defensively, but how meaningfully will that change this season?

It comes down to the offenses here; without Napheesa Collier, both teams should be on equal footing at both ends of the floor. Minnesota’s veterans have earned my trust, and Olivia Miles has the look of a serious ROY candidate. With only hairs to split between these two, Minnesota is the value pick as a road underdog.

Best Bet: Minnesota Lynx Moneyline (+142)