by Vegas Writer
Wednesday, Jun 24, 2026Heading into Tuesday's one-game slate, the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces were favored to win the WNBA title.
At DraftKings, the odds were as follows: Minnesota and Las Vegas at +300, followed by the New York Liberty (+320), Atlanta Dream (+700), Dallas Wings (+1400) and Indiana Fever (+1400).
After the Liberty walloped the Aces in Las Vegas, the teams switched places, as it's now New York and Minnesota favored to win it all, while the defending champs are now +320.
The powerful three are once again proving they're the class of the league, and the road to a title rolls through Sin City, the Twin Cities or Gotham.
But if you ask me, the team to invest in right now is the Lynx.
Despite a few stumbling blocks, they've dominated since the start of the season behind two key elements surrounded by a rock-solid supporting cast.
First, there's Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles, who looks more like a fourth-year guard hitting her stride when humbling veterans on defense. Miles' quick first step or long-range jumper has her ranked in the top 12 in scoring at 18.5 points per game and tied for ninth in assists at 5.6 per contest.
Second, veteran Natasha Howard was a key offseason acquisition, and she has fit splendidly into coach Cheryl Reeve's system. She's scoring 17.3 points and grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game. Her presence - and effectiveness - provides spacing for others, as she's drawing defensive attention away from the perimeter.
And here's the thing, they're doing all of this without Napheesa Collier, easily one of the three best players in the world when she's 100 percent healthy. Recovering from surgery on both ankles, she should be back this season, and the odds on Minnesota will drop.
Now is the time to invest in the Lynx.
PROP WATCH OF THE WEEK
Dallas Wings forward JESSICA SHEPARD was the Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals per contest the last three games. In the Wings' 96-66 win over the Aces on June 15, Shepard flirted with her third triple-double of the year, falling one assist shy with 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. It was her third game of the season with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds. She'll be in Las Vegas for a return engagement in a critical game against the Aces.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Sunday, June 28, 2 p.m. Eastern on CBS: Minnesota at Dallas -- The Lynx head to Big D after the Wings' game in Las Vegas, and it'll be interesting to see how the young guns respond after facing A'ja Wilson and company after their loss to the Liberty. Paige Bueckers has been impressive with big buckets recently, be it overcoming a double-digit deficit or helping to seal an overtime win. It'll be the third meeting of rookie sensations Miles and Azzi Fudd. The Lynx have won the first two meetings, so there will be a double-revenge mindset in place.
RANKINGS:
1. Minnesota Lynx - The Lynx are not only the No. 1 team in the league, but they're twinning with SU and ATS records of 13-4.
2. New York Liberty - Had the Liberty lost on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, the teams would be swapped in this poll. Make note, they're 6-2 on the road.
3. Las Vegas Aces - The Aces have been much better on the road, going 8-2 while ordering room service.
4. Atlanta Dream - Angel Reese has found a home, and this team is benefiting from what will be the best season of her three-year career.
5. Dallas Wings - If, and it's a very big IF, the Wings can beat the Aces for a second-straight meeting and then beat the Lynx, you have to consider this team as a top-three squad.
6. Golden State Valkyries - If this team can find consistency, especially on the road, this is a sleeper to be wary of down the stretch.
7. Los Angeles Sparks - They've gone on the road and won five of seven. They've come home and lost seven of nine. If they learn to win at home, they'll be dangerous.
8. Washington Mystics - They've been a fantastic option when you least expect it, having covered nine of 15.
9. Indiana Fever - The discord between Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White could be coming to a head. She doesn't fit in her system, but the rest of the team does. Who goes first?
10. Portland Fire - The verdict is out on this team, still. They have impressive wins and questionable losses.
11. Toronto Tempo - If there's one thing you can count on with the Tempo, it's high-scoring games. Twelve of 17 have gone over.
12. Phoenix Mercury - Last year's runner-up is not only 5-13, but they're 6-12 ATS. Fade material.
13. Seattle Storm - I don't trust the coaching hire and wonder why they didn't hire a veteran to replace Noelle Quinn.
14. Connecticut Sun - They get a bump because they beat the Sky.
15. Chicago Sky - Is Tyler Marsh going to be fired anytime soon?
At DraftKings, the odds were as follows: Minnesota and Las Vegas at +300, followed by the New York Liberty (+320), Atlanta Dream (+700), Dallas Wings (+1400) and Indiana Fever (+1400).
After the Liberty walloped the Aces in Las Vegas, the teams switched places, as it's now New York and Minnesota favored to win it all, while the defending champs are now +320.
The powerful three are once again proving they're the class of the league, and the road to a title rolls through Sin City, the Twin Cities or Gotham.
But if you ask me, the team to invest in right now is the Lynx.
Despite a few stumbling blocks, they've dominated since the start of the season behind two key elements surrounded by a rock-solid supporting cast.
First, there's Rookie of the Year frontrunner Olivia Miles, who looks more like a fourth-year guard hitting her stride when humbling veterans on defense. Miles' quick first step or long-range jumper has her ranked in the top 12 in scoring at 18.5 points per game and tied for ninth in assists at 5.6 per contest.
Second, veteran Natasha Howard was a key offseason acquisition, and she has fit splendidly into coach Cheryl Reeve's system. She's scoring 17.3 points and grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game. Her presence - and effectiveness - provides spacing for others, as she's drawing defensive attention away from the perimeter.
And here's the thing, they're doing all of this without Napheesa Collier, easily one of the three best players in the world when she's 100 percent healthy. Recovering from surgery on both ankles, she should be back this season, and the odds on Minnesota will drop.
Now is the time to invest in the Lynx.
PROP WATCH OF THE WEEK
Dallas Wings forward JESSICA SHEPARD was the Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 16.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals per contest the last three games. In the Wings' 96-66 win over the Aces on June 15, Shepard flirted with her third triple-double of the year, falling one assist shy with 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. It was her third game of the season with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds. She'll be in Las Vegas for a return engagement in a critical game against the Aces.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Sunday, June 28, 2 p.m. Eastern on CBS: Minnesota at Dallas -- The Lynx head to Big D after the Wings' game in Las Vegas, and it'll be interesting to see how the young guns respond after facing A'ja Wilson and company after their loss to the Liberty. Paige Bueckers has been impressive with big buckets recently, be it overcoming a double-digit deficit or helping to seal an overtime win. It'll be the third meeting of rookie sensations Miles and Azzi Fudd. The Lynx have won the first two meetings, so there will be a double-revenge mindset in place.
RANKINGS:
1. Minnesota Lynx - The Lynx are not only the No. 1 team in the league, but they're twinning with SU and ATS records of 13-4.
2. New York Liberty - Had the Liberty lost on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, the teams would be swapped in this poll. Make note, they're 6-2 on the road.
3. Las Vegas Aces - The Aces have been much better on the road, going 8-2 while ordering room service.
4. Atlanta Dream - Angel Reese has found a home, and this team is benefiting from what will be the best season of her three-year career.
5. Dallas Wings - If, and it's a very big IF, the Wings can beat the Aces for a second-straight meeting and then beat the Lynx, you have to consider this team as a top-three squad.
6. Golden State Valkyries - If this team can find consistency, especially on the road, this is a sleeper to be wary of down the stretch.
7. Los Angeles Sparks - They've gone on the road and won five of seven. They've come home and lost seven of nine. If they learn to win at home, they'll be dangerous.
8. Washington Mystics - They've been a fantastic option when you least expect it, having covered nine of 15.
9. Indiana Fever - The discord between Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White could be coming to a head. She doesn't fit in her system, but the rest of the team does. Who goes first?
10. Portland Fire - The verdict is out on this team, still. They have impressive wins and questionable losses.
11. Toronto Tempo - If there's one thing you can count on with the Tempo, it's high-scoring games. Twelve of 17 have gone over.
12. Phoenix Mercury - Last year's runner-up is not only 5-13, but they're 6-12 ATS. Fade material.
13. Seattle Storm - I don't trust the coaching hire and wonder why they didn't hire a veteran to replace Noelle Quinn.
14. Connecticut Sun - They get a bump because they beat the Sky.
15. Chicago Sky - Is Tyler Marsh going to be fired anytime soon?
