The mighty Minnesota Lynx stand atop the WNBA standings at 30-7. Opponents running into this buzzsaw have found it hazardous to their health, not to mention their prospects in their very next game. The other 14 teams in the W are 11-25 SU and 14-22 ATS this season after facing Olivia Miles, Kayla McBride, Courtney Williams, and friends.
That's not good, but six weeks into the season, it began to get much worse. On Friday, June 19th, the Golden State Valykries hosted the Lynx and lost. Since that night, WNBA teams have gone 3-18 SU and 6-15 ATS after facing the Lynx. Only two teams have managed to win their next game after facing them. The Dallas Wings did it twice, beating the Fire In Portland and the Tempo in Dallas, but failed to cover the spread both times vs. very bad teams. The Portland Fire defeated the cellar-dwelling Seattle Storm by two points after the oddsmakers had dared to make the Storm favored by 2.5 points.
Since June 19th, four teams have had to play the Lynx twice in a row. They collectively lost all 8 games, but went 3-1 ATS in the rematches. This, I believe, is because all four were poor teams against whom the Lynx didn't try their hardest in the second game. If we throw out these four rematches, that makes WNBA teams 3-14 SU and 3-14 ATS after playing the Lynx.
Two nights ago, the Valykries hosted the Lynx and got schooled by a score of 77-66, a game in which they trailed by as many as 21 points and never led. It was their third straight loss this season to league-leading Minny and dropped them 0-9 vs. Minnesota since the Valykries entered the league to begin the 2025 season. That bodes poorly for their next game, which is tonight in Chicago vs. the Sky.
The Chicago Sky are coming off two straight wins, including a home dog upset of the New York Liberty on Monday night. Still, their record is just 14-22, which means the 25-10 Valykries are road favorites tonight. So how have teams fared as favorites immediately after having been put through the Lynx blender?
Badly. Very badly.
Seven teams since June 26th have been favored in their next game after playing the Lynx. Check it out...
On June 24th, the Mystics lost at home to the Lynx. Two days later, favored by 3.5 at the Sun, the Mystics lost 68-57.
On June 28th, the Wings lost at home to the Lynx. Four days later, favored by 6.5 at the Sun, they won 86-83.
On July 3rd, the Liberty defeated the Lynx at home. Four days later, favored by 4.5 at home vs. the Wings, the Liberty lost 88-77.
On July 11th, the Liberty lost in Minnesota. The next night, favored by 7.5 in Toronto, the Liberty lost 93-91.
On July 13th, the Mercury lost in Minnesota. Four days later, favored by 3.5 at home vs. the Suns, the Mercury lost 96-83.
On August 2nd, the Fever lost in Minnesota. Four days later, favored by 1.5 at home vs. the Aces, the Fever lost 86-84 in overtime.
On August 15th, the Aces lost at home to the Lynx. Three days later, favored by 3.5 at home vs. the Dream, the Aces lost 97-82.
Since June 19th, teams favored in their next game after playing the Lynx are 1-6 and 0-7 ATS, failing to cover by an average of 11.6 points per game. Yikes. Also in these 7 games, these favored teams went 1-6 SU and 0-7 ATS in the 1st halves.
MB, GS bounces back 2nite by 8 or more, sky coming off a big home win should b flat
Hot Forum Topics
