Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury Preview and Prediction for 2024 WNBA Regular Season | August 28, 2024

The third-place Minnesota Lynx and the sixth-place Phoenix Mercury will meet on Wednesday in an eagerly anticipated matchup between two of the WNBA's top teams.

Minnesota comes into Wednesday's game with a 22-8 record. It has been an exciting 45-day stretch for Lynx fans, with the team pulling off an impressive six-game win streak. They have not lost a game since their defeat to the Indiana Fever on July 14. Minnesota are one of three teams to have already clinched a playoff birth alongside the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun.

The Mercury have struggled to find any consistency since returning from the month-long WNBA break. The team is 3-3 in their last six games and will have to be better as they approach the final stretch of the season with the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky on their heels.

Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury 2024 WNBA Regular Season: Odds, Preview and Prediction

Phoenix Mercury guards Kahleah Copper and Diana Taurasi and center Brittney Griner against the Indiana Fever at Footprint Center. Photo Credit: Imagn

The Mercury will face the Lynx at the Footprint Center in Arizona on Wednesday, August 28. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 10:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. PST). Here are the latest odds for the matchup:

Moneyline: Minnesota Lynx (-165), Phoenix Mercury (+140)

Spread: Minnesota Lynx (-3.5)

Total (Over/Under): 162.5 points

Note: All odds are subject to change prior to tip-off

Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury 2024 WNBA Regular Season: Preview

The Minnesota Lynx have been one of the streakiest teams in the league this season. Between June 10 and June 23, Cheryl Reeve's side pulled off a six-game win streak with headline wins over the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm. The team is currently in the midst of another six-game win streak and will be looking to continue that hot streak on Wednesday.

Minnesota's defense has been the talking point over the last few weeks. The team ranks second overall in the WNBA in points allowed, holding opponents to 75.6 points per game.

Forward Napheese Collier has been the standout player for the Lynx this season. The four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medal winner leads the roster in points (21.1), rebounds (10) and steals (2.1).

The home crowd in Phoenix will be hoping to see the Mercury get their season back on track after an underwhelming 5-5 record in their last 10 games. Two wins over playoff rivals the Chicago Sky and the Atlanta Dream over the last 10 days will go a long way to boosting the team's confidence but Nate Tibbetts knows his team will have to be better if they hope to make an impact in the playoffs.

Kahleah Cooper has been in remarkable form this year, averaging 22.6 points per game. The Mercury will also look to their veteran All-Stars, Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi, to guide them to a much-needed victory. Griner leads the team in rebounds (6.4), blocks (1.7) and ranks second in points (18.5).

The two teams have already met on three occasions this season, with the Lynx edging the series 2-1.

Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury 2024 WNBA Regular Season: Prediction

With the Lynx's spot in the playoffs already secured, we could see an upset in this matchup. Minnesota enters that game as a slender 3.5-point favorite against a hungry Phoenix team that still needs a few wins to qualify for the postseason.

Phoenix has also been strong at home, with a 9-5 record at the Footprint Center this season.

The Phoenix Mercury have plenty of talent in Griner, Taurasi and Cooper. They will be battling hard to ensure they are one of the final eight teams to make the playoffs. Expect to see an upset in this closely matched WNBA encounter.