Venue & Game Details
Tip-off: 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT
Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Broadcast: ESPN
Series Format: Best-of-three (1-1-1) — Game 2 in San Jose, Game 3 (if needed) back in Minneapolis
Injury Report
Golden State Valkyries
OUT: Kayla Thornton (knee, season-ending) — Team leader in points (14.0), rebounds (7.0), steals (1.3).
OUT: Tiffany Hayes (knee) — Second in scoring (11.7) and assists (3.0); missed last 8 games, day-to-day but ruled out for Game 1.
Minnesota Lynx
PROBABLE: DiJonai Carrington (shoulder) — Key defensive wing; missed last 4 games.
Healthy: MVP candidate Napheesa Collier (ankle sprain earlier in season) fully active.
Lynx tied WNBA single-season wins record (34).
Valkyries: First expansion team in league history to make playoffs in inaugural season.
Recent Form
Minnesota Lynx
Last 5: 3–2 (W vs. GSV 72–53, L vs. ATL, W vs. DAL, L vs. SEA, W vs. GSV)
Elite at home: 20–2 at Target Center.
Golden State Valkyries
Last 5: 2–3 (L vs. MIN twice, L vs. SEA, W vs. PHX, W vs. IND)
Enter playoffs on 3-game losing streak.
Series History
2025 Regular Season: Lynx swept 4–0, avg. margin +15.3.
Last meeting (Sept. 12): MIN 72–53 — Natisha Hiedeman 21 pts; Veronica Burton 8 pts, 7 ast.
Key Player Matchups
Napheesa Collier (MIN) vs. Valkyries Interior Defense — Collier: 22.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 50-40-90 shooting; averaged 21.3 PPG vs. GSV.
Veronica Burton (GSV) vs. Courtney Williams (MIN) — Burton leads GSV in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks; Williams 6.2 APG, 13.6 PPG.
Kayla McBride (MIN) vs. GSV Perimeter Defense — McBride: 37.8% from 3, 103 makes (2nd WNBA).
Iliana Rupert & Cecilia Zandalasini (GSV) vs. Alanna Smith (MIN) — Rupert 44.2% from 3; Smith 1.9 BPG, defensive anchor.
Betting Trends
ATS: MIN 24–18–2; GSV 25–18–1.
O/U: MIN 35–9 to Over; GSV 31–13 to Over.
Head-to-Head ATS 2025: MIN 3–1.
Home Edge: MIN +12.9 PPG differential at Target Center.
GAME ODDS
Golden State Valkyries 148
Minnesota Lynx – 12.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, September 13, 2025
