Closing down Friday’s three-game WNBA slate, the Minnesota Lynx will take on the Golden State Valkyries.

This marks the second of four matchups between these two sides this season. The Lynx produced an 87-84 victory in the first matchup on June 4. This matchup took place on the Lynx’s home court, and the rematch tips off in Golden State.

The Lynx enter as narrow 2.5-point road favorites with -148 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Valkyries are +124 underdogs, with the game total set at 165.5 points.

Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Lynx-Valkyries matchup.

Lynx at Valkyries Preview

The Minnesota Lynx have climbed to the top of the WNBA standings with a 12-3 start to the season. They enter today’s game coming off back-to-back wins and have picked up victories in 10 of their last 11. Overall, the Lynx are 13-2 against the spread, and the game total has gone over in nine of their 15 games.

Napheesa Collier remains sidelined as she recovers from her offseason ankle surgeries. Emma Cechova and Dorka Juhasz will also miss Friday’s contest. Second overall pick Olivia Miles has found her form, leading the team with 19 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. Natasha Howard adds 17.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, while Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride pitch in a combined 30.9 points per contest. Nia Coffey and Maya Caldwell also play key roles.

The Lynx lead the WNBA in scoring at 93.1 points per game. Minnesota also ranks first in offensive rating, first in field-goal percentage and first in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are averaging 79.7 points per game against the Lynx, the second-lowest rate in the league. They also rank first in defensive rating, first in opponent field-goal percentage, and third in opponent three-point percentage.

The Golden State Valkyries are off to a 10-5 start to the season in their second year in the WNBA. They enter this matchup on a four-game winning streak and have won seven of their last 10. Overall, the Valkyries have gone 8-7 against the spread, and the game total has gone over in 10 of their 15 games played.

Gabby Williams headlines the production for Golden State, averaging 16.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Veronica Burton adds 14 points and a team-high 5.7 assists. Janelle Salaun is the lone other player to average in double figures with 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game off the bench. Kayla Thornton, Kiah Stokes, Cecilia Zandalasini and Kaila Charles each also play key roles.

As a team, the Valkyries are scoring 85.1 points per game, which ranks ninth in the WNBA. They also rank fifth in offensive rating, 14th in field-goal percentage, and second in three-point percentage, while launching the most perimeter shots in the league. Defensively, opponents are averaging 78.4 points per game against Golden State, the lowest mark in the league. The Valkyries also rank second in defensive rating, third in opponent field-goal percentage, and 13th in opponent three-point percentage.

Lynx at Valkyries Pick, Best Bet

During the first matchup between these two teams, the Lynx produced a narrow 87-84 win over the Valkyries in a competitive battle throughout. Neither team was able to take a lead by more than seven points. A missed three-point attempt by Zandalasini at the buzzer secured the fate, and both sides will be looking to improve their effort in the second matchup.

The Lynx have looked borderline unstoppable of late, with Miles finding her full form on the floor. This is especially impressive, given the impact Collier will have once she returns to the floor. Their three losses so far have come at the hands of the Atlanta Dream, the Chicago Sky, and the Las Vegas Aces.

However, Golden State is an extremely difficult place to play, and this Valkyries team must be taken seriously. They have gone 7-2 at home this season and won 14 of their 22 home games last year, with one of the better atmospheres in the WNBA taking place in the area. Golden State has taken a massive step forward in its defensive impact this season. They are holding teams to the fewest points per game, rank second in defensive rating, and rank third in opponent field-goal percentage.

This is a recipe for success in this type of matchup, as Golden State can hang around for most of it and find a way to win at the end. The Valkyries attempt more three-pointers than any team in the league and connect at the second-best efficiency. This is a concern against a Minnesota team that allows the most perimeter shots in the league, even if they do rank third in opponents’ three-point percentage.

Golden State was right there with the Lynx in the first matchup, and will be eager to lean on the home crowd as the difference on Friday. While the Lynx have earned their way into the conversation for one of the top teams in the WNBA once again this year, it feels fair to note they have played a notch above their heads in recent games. Miles is averaging an absurd 20.9 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 59.5% from the floor and 44.4% from beyond the arc across the past 10 games.

Expect a clear effort from Golden State to make her life difficult and for Minnesota to struggle with their scoring if she is at all limited. Count on the Valkyries to have success slowing down the Lynx attack and have a clear path to getting off three-pointers at a high rate for one of their best wins of the season. Golden State has played impressive basketball of late, and I expect them to be ready for the challenge at home.

Best Bet: Golden State Valkyries Moneyline (+124)