The Minnesota Lynx head into Brooklyn Tonight carrying the best record in the WNBA, and a matchup with the New York Liberty offers an early measuring stick for both teams as the season moves into its second half. Tip off at Barclays Center is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern, with the game airing on ION and streaming on Fubo.
Minnesota enters at 15 and 4, the top mark in the league, while New York sits at 12 and 8. Despite the gap in record, the two teams have been fairly evenly matched in scoring efficiency this season, and New York’s home crowd could make things interesting against a Lynx team that has otherwise been nearly unbeatable away from home.
The stars leading the way
Breanna Stewart has been the engine for New York’s offense, ranking among the league’s top scorers with 19.2 points per game to go with 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists, while shooting nearly 45% from the field. On the other side, Minnesota’s Olivia Miles has quietly put together an efficient season of her own, averaging 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting nearly 52% from the field, numbers that reflect why the Lynx have been so difficult to beat.
Both teams will be missing key contributors. New York will be without Satou Sabally, who remains out with a concussion, while Minnesota is dealing with a thinner frontcourt after Napheesa Collier was ruled out with an ankle injury and Emma Cechova was lost for the season with a knee injury. Dorka Juhasz is listed as questionable with a foot issue, adding further uncertainty to Minnesota’s rotation heading into the matchup.
A statistical edge for Minnesota
Minnesota’s defense has been one of the best in the league this season, allowing just under 80 points per game, well below New York’s offensive average. The Lynx have also been especially effective on the road, entering the game with a strong record away from home this season and a similarly dominant mark against the spread in road games.
New York, meanwhile, has trended in the opposite direction recently, dropping two of its last three games and showing some defensive vulnerabilities in that stretch. Still, the Liberty have been considerably better at home than on the road this year, giving them a reasonable chance to slow down a Minnesota team that has been rolling through much of the schedule.
Oddsmakers have installed Minnesota Lynx as a slight favorite, with the point spread hovering around a point and a half and the total set in the mid 170s, reflecting an expectation for a close, competitive game between two teams heading in different directions over their last several outings.
What to watch for
With Lynx banged up in the frontcourt and New York trying to right the ship at home, the game figures to hinge on which team’s stars can impose themselves early. A strong night from Stewart could give New York the offensive boost it needs, while continued efficient scoring from Miles would keep Minnesota’s league-best record intact heading into the holiday weekend.