The Minnesota Lynx (5-2) and Chicago Sky (3-4) meet in the WNBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. The game will be broadcast live on ION.
The Lynx are favored by -2.5 on the spread, with the over/under set at 168.5 (-117o / -108u). The Lynx are a -170 favorite to win outright, while the Sky are +142 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Lynx vs. Sky predictions and WNBA picks.
Lynx vs. Sky Odds, Pick
| Lynx Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -112 | 168.5 -117o / -108u | -170 |
| Sky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -109 | 168.5 -117o / -108u | +142 |
- Lynx vs. Sky Spread: Lynx -2.5 (-112), Sky +2.5 (-109)
- Lynx vs. Sky Over/Under: 168.5 (-117o / -108u)
- Lynx vs. Sky Moneyline: Lynx -170, Sky +142
- Lynx vs. Sky Best Bet: Lynx Moneyline
Lynx vs. Sky Preview
This is the rubber match.
Chicago took the first meeting 86-79 in Minnesota on May 17 behind Gabriela Jaquez's 20 points and eight rebounds. The Lynx answered six days later with an 85-75 win at Wintrust Arena, so Friday's matchup gives us a clean tiebreaker between two teams that already know exactly what this game will look like.
Recent form points much more clearly toward Minnesota. The Lynx have won four of their past five and bring a three-game winning streak into this one after a 96-81 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday, May 27. Chicago is moving in the opposite direction, with just one win in its past five and back-to-back home losses entering Friday.
That recent split matters, but so does what has happened since the Sky's win in Minneapolis. Minnesota responded the right way and has looked steadier game to game, while Chicago has had a much harder time finding traction.
There isn't a scheduling edge to separate them, either. Both teams played Wednesday and enter this game with just one day of rest, so the handicap comes back to current form and the latest head-to-head result.
Lynx vs. Sky Prediction
Minnesota already showed it can win this exact road spot. In the May 23 meeting in Chicago, the Lynx beat the Sky 85-75 behind Natasha Howard's 26 points and 14 rebounds, controlling the matchup at the same building they'll visit again tonight.
The bigger picture supports that result. After losing to Chicago on May 17, Minnesota answered with wins over Toronto, Chicago and Atlanta. The latest one was especially encouraging offensively, as Courtney Williams scored 25 and Howard added 22 in a 96-81 win over the Dream.
Chicago's defensive form is the biggest red flag. The Sky just gave up 111 points to Toronto on May 27, allowing the Tempo to shoot 50.6% from the field and 42.9% from 3. That's a rough profile to bring into a quick-turnaround game against a Lynx team that is scoring with confidence.
The injury context also tilts this matchup a bit further toward Minnesota. Chicago lost Rickea Jackson for the season with a torn ACL suffered in the May 17 win over the Lynx. Azurá Stevens did return on May 23 after missing the first five games with a bone bruise in her left knee, which helps the Sky's frontcourt, but Minnesota still looks like the more reliable side right now. On the Lynx side, Dorka Juhász is still out after a right mid-foot sprain announced May 8.
With the spread sitting at just -2.5, I wouldn't argue too hard against a Lynx spread ticket. Still, the cleaner play is backing the hotter team simply to win.
Best Bet: Lynx Moneyline
