Lynx vs Valkyries WNBA Pick: Can Eighth-Seeded Golden State Pull Off The Upset? (Sep 14)

• The Lynx finished with the league’s top record at 34-10.
• Golden State finished 23-21, becoming the first WNBA team to qualify for the playoffs in its first season.
• These teams previously squared off on Sep. 11, with the Lynx winning by a 72-53 margin.

One of the games on Sunday’s WNBA postseason slate features the Minnesota Lynx hosting the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of this first-round matchup. Who has the edge in our Lynx vs Valkyries pick?

Minnesota vs Golden State Preview

These teams faced off in the final game of the 2025 campaign, with the Lynx emerging victorious by a score of 72-53. Minnesota held a 12-point lead at intermission (34-22) before Golden State pulled within six through three quarters of action.

But thanks to a key 12-0 run to start the final frame, Minnesota cruised to a 19-point victory, while tying the Las Vegas Aces for the most regular-season wins in league history.

Napheesa Collier was the Lynx’s top scorer, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, although Golden State’s offense was balanced—with multiple eight-point scorers—not one player reached double figures. Not only that, but the team shot 28.8 percent overall and just 11.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Lynx vs Valkyries WNBA Pick

Coming off an impressive 34-win season, Minnesota enters this tilt as a double-digit favorite. Here are a few betting trends to consider for both teams ahead of Game 1.

• The Lynx are 16-6 straight-up (SU) in their last 22 games.
• Minnesota is 14-5-1 ATS in its previous 20 home outings.
• The Valkyries are 4-3 across their last seven contests.
• Golden State has gone 5-4-1 against the spread in its previous 10 matchups.

The Lynx won all four of the head-to-head matchups this season, with three of those victories coming by double digits. With this in mind, that trend is expected to continue when these teams take the court on Sunday afternoon.