The Washington Mystics will host the Golden State Valkyries at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. on Thursday night. The Mystics have home‑court advantage in this matchup. But Golden State comes into this game after their most impressive road win in franchise history. Here, I break down this Thursday night matchup in the WNBA and give you my Valkyries vs Mystics prediction.
Our Valkyries vs Mystics Pick
- Pick: Mystics -2.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Golden State Valkyries @ Washington Mystics
- Date & Time: July 31, 2025, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: CareFirst Arena, Washington, D.C.
- Broadcast: Prime Video
Valkyries vs Mystics Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Mystics –2.5 | Valkyries +120, Mystics –142 | 157.5 |
Key Storylines
The Mystics sit at 13–13 with a home record of 9–5. This is the fifth straight home game for Washington and they have gone 2-2 during their current homestand. They are coming off a dominant 103–86 win over the Chicago Sky in which Sonia Citron pumped in 28 points and Kiki Iriafen had 22 points. Washington has won two of their last three games and will look to make it three out of four with a win here.
Golden State is 12–13 and is coming off a terrific road win in Atlanta. They beat the Dream 77–75 behind Cecilia Zandalasini’s 18 points and Tiffany Hayes’ 15 points. Zandalasini hit the game-winning shot with just seconds remaining in what is clearly the best road win in the young history of this franchise. Golden State is just 4-9 on the road this year but should be encouraged after getting a win like that without their top scorer in Kayla Thornton.
Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends
- The Valkyries lead the season series 1‑0. They won the first meeting between these teams 76‑74 in San Francisco.
- Washington is 13-13 against the spread this season.
- Golden State is 15-10 against the spread. The Valkyries have the best win percentage in the league against the spread.
- Both teams have won two of their last three games.
Advanced Metrics & Trends
- Golden State is 10th in the league in offensive rating. Washington is right behind them in 11th place.
- Both teams hang their hat on the defensive end of the floor. The Valkyries are fifth in the league in defensive rating and Washington is sixth.
- The Mystics are sixth in the league in pace. Golden State is last in the league in pace. Washington will try and get out in transition and speed the Valkyries up as much as they can.
- Key matchup: The Mystics’ frontcourt could have a big game against a Valkryies team that lacks a dominant big to match up with them.
Valkyries vs Mystics Model Projection
Score Projection: Washington Mystics 84 – Golden State Valkyries 78
Win Probability: Washington 57 %, Golden State 43 %
Final Thoughts
The key to this game for me is the ability of the Mystics to impose their will in the paint. The duo of Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin should be able to get what they want near the rim on offense. I expect the Mystics to win and cover the spread at home as the Valkyries should come back down to Earth on the road after their win in Atlanta.
