Wednesday’s Game 2 in the first‐round playoff series between the Minnesota Lynx and the Golden State Valkyries is a must‐win scenario for the Valkyries. The Lynx aim to close out the series with a strong road performance. But the Valkyries have one of the best home crowds in the W and will try to pull the upset to force a Game 3. Here, I break down this contest in the WNBA and bring you my Lynx vs Valkyries Game 2 prediction.
Our Lynx vs Valkyries Game 2 Pick
- Pick: Valkyries +10.5
- Confidence: 3/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Minnesota Lynx @ Golden State Valkyries
- Date & Time: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 10:00 PM ET
- Venue: SAP Center, San Jose, CA
- Broadcast: ESPN
Lynx vs Valkyries Game 2 Odds
| Type | Line |
|---|---|
| Spread | Lynx −10.5 |
| Moneyline | Lynx −535 / Valkyries +400 |
| Total Points (O/U) | 151.5 |
Key Storylines
- Golden State is facing elimination. This is their first-ever playoff series in their expansion season and they don’t want it to end in two games. They showed flashes in Game 1 and led after the first quarter before collapsing afterward. Golden State’s energy and crowd involvement will be deciding factors here.
- Injuries are a factor. Golden State remains without Tiffany Hayes and Kayla Thornton. Those are big losses in scoring, veteran leadership, and production. Minnesota is relatively healthy, with the only concern being DiJonai Carrington and her injured shoulder, but she is probable.
- Minnesota’s stars and depth have dominated. Napheesa Collier had 20 points in Game 1, Natisha Hiedeman had 18, Kayla McBride had 17, and Jessica Shepard had 12. Golden State’s shooting cooled after the first quarter, and turnovers and foul trouble hurt them. Minnesota has all the momentum here and will try to advance via sweep.
- Golden State’s home playoff game is being played at SAP Center instead of Chase Center due to scheduling conflicts. While still a home game, the change may affect comfort, logistics, and crowd noise.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Past meetings: Minnesota swept Golden State in the regular season over four games. Golden State has never beaten the Lynx in the regular season or playoffs.
- ATS (Against the Spread) & O/U trends:
- Game 1 saw the Lynx cover a large spread. Books expect a similar margin in Game 2.
- The total in Game 1 went well over the total. There were 173 total points scored, flying over the total of 148.5.
- Home/Road splits: Minnesota is 14-8 on the road this season. Golden State is 14-8 at home, but this is their first home game in San Jose instead of San Francisco.
Advanced Metrics & Trends
- Offensive/Defensive Efficiency: Minnesota ended the regular season with the best offensive rating, defensive rating, and net rating in the WNBA. The Lynx had the best net rating of any playoff team after Sunday’s Game 1s across the league.
- Pace of play: Both teams played at slow tempos in the regular season. But Game 1 featured the fastest pace of the four series opening games on Sunday.
Lynx vs Valkyries Game 2 Model Projection
Score Projection: Lynx 83 – Golden State 75
Win Probability: Lynx 76%, Valkyries 24%
Final Thoughts
I think that the Lynx will complete a two-game sweep to advance to the semifinals with a win on Tuesday. But I am not convinced that this is a blowout by any means. I recommend taking the points with the Valkyries, who should put up a major fight as they try to extend their season by at least one more game.
