The Minnesota Lynx bring their perfect 9-0 record to Seattle to take on the Storm Wednesday night at Climate Pledge Arena. This is a Commissioner’s Cup matchup, with tip-off scheduled for 10:00 PM ET. Minnesota is 3-0 in Cup play while Seattle enters at 2-1.
These teams last met on May 27, when Minnesota pulled out an 82-77 win at home. Seattle had the game within three points in the final seconds before two free throws from Napheesa Collier sealed it. This game is the second of their regular season series and could impact Cup standings later on.
Lynx Preview – Perfect Start Rolling into Seattle
The Lynx are off to a 9-0 start. They are 5-0 on the road and 4-0 at home. Minnesota leads the Western Conference and has the league’s second-best field goal percentage at 46.3%.
Napheesa Collier is putting up MVP numbers. She scored 28 points on 10-for-19 shooting with 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in the last game. She’s averaging over 20 points per game and has led the team in scoring in several games during the streak.
Kayla McBride returned from personal leave and has made an impact right away. She had 21 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds in the win over Dallas. The Lynx are top three in assists, defensive rebounding, and three-point shooting. They average 84.4 points per game, sixth in the league, and their defense allows just 78.8.
Storm Preview – Home Test Against WNBA’s Best
Seattle is 5-4 this season and sits fourth in the Western Conference. They are 3-2 at home and are coming off an 89-77 road win over Phoenix. The Storm are looking to even the season series against the Lynx and improve their Cup position.
Skylar Diggins had her best scoring game of the season against Phoenix with 26 points. She also added 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Gabby Williams added 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting, with 7 assists and 3 boards of her own. This combo gives Seattle an offensive lift heading into this matchup.
Seattle’s defense is ranked seventh in field goal percentage allowed. They give up 42.7% shooting from the field and allow 78.8 points per game. They’ve done well protecting the paint but will be tested against Collier and McBride. The Storm are also top five in three-point defense, allowing just 32.1% from deep.
Betting Prediction
Minnesota is listed as a 4.5-point favorite, with the total set at 155.5. The Lynx have won all nine games this season but have only covered the spread in four of them. Seattle has gone 5-4 against the spread and has been more consistent at home.
The Lynx have the edge in most team stats including field goal percentage, rebounding, assists, and blocks. Seattle will need big games again from Diggins and Williams to keep it close. Collier has been hard to stop and Minnesota’s depth is stronger. Final score prediction: Lynx 84, Storm 76.
Pick: Lynx -4.5
