Collier, Lynx Ride Hot Start into Los Angeles
Lynx vs Sparks WNBA Odds Favor Minnesota
Looking to build on their strong start, the Minnesota Lynx begin a brief, two-game West Coast swing Wednesday against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena.
- Minnesota is a 7.5-point favorite and -325 on the moneyline, with Los Angeles +260 to win outright. Meanwhile, the projected total is 158.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both teams and assess the Lynx vs Sparks WNBA odds in our game preview.
🏀Lynx at Sparks🏀
📊Records: Minnesota Lynx (6-2), Los Angeles Sparks (2-6)
📅Date/Time: Wednesday, June 5, 10 p.m. ET
📍Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
📺Stream: WNBA League Pass
Lynx vs Sparks Betting Trends
The Minnesota Lynx have covered in all three road games and are 7-1 against the spread (ATS). Minnesota has also been profitable for Over/Under bettors, having gone Over the total in five of its last seven games.
- The Los Angeles Sparks, meanwhile, are 2-5-1 ATS, including 0-3-1 at home. The total has gone Under in four of the Sparks’ last six games.
That is important to remember when assessing the Lynx vs Sparks WNBA odds.
Trumping Expectations
The Minnesota Lynx roster is talented, led by Napheesa Collier. A three-time All-Star, Collier ranks fourth in the WNBA in scoring (21.4 points per game) and third in both rebounds (11.3) and steals (2.5).
- The strong start has put her among the MVP favorites at +950. Only Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson (-150) and Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas (+800) began Wednesday with better odds.
Projected for 16.5 wins, Minnesota is on pace to crush expectations. At 6-2, the Lynx sit atop the WNBA Western Conference and have the third-best winning percentage in the WNBA (.750) behind Connecticut and New York.
- They’re already -8000 locks to make the playoffs and own the fifth-best WNBA title odds at +2000.
At the same time, Minnesota has been especially profitable for bettors. The Lynx have covered in seven of their first eight games, including Sunday’s 87-76 win over Dallas.
The Lynx, 6.5-point favorites, got 25 points from Kayla McBride and 24 points and 14 rebounds from Collier. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Lynx vs Sparks WNBA odds.
Meanwhile, the Lynx, who are first in the league in offensive efficiency (45.9%) and second in scoring (86.4 PPG), remain without forward Diamond Miller. The No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, Miller injured her right knee three games into the season and had been recovering from a separate injury to her left knee while playing overseas.
She underwent surgery last week and is out indefinitely.
- Miller averaged 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds after earning all-rookie team honors in 2023.
Searching for a Spark
On the heels of a 17-23 finish in 2023, Los Angeles was projected for a league-low 11.5 wins. And as expected, the Sparks have struggled out of the gate. They are just 2-6, having lost two straight and four of their last five games.
Los Angeles has failed to cover in five of its last six games, including Sunday’s 87-68 loss to Phoenix. The Sparks, 5-point underdogs, got 23 points from Dearica Hamby and 12 points from Kia Nurse.
- Sitting last in the West, Los Angeles has already seen its playoff odds drop to +650. Much of the skepticism is around the departure of Nneka Ogwumike. The eight-time All-Star and former MVP signed with Seattle in free agency, ending her 12-year run in Los Angeles.
No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink has made a quick impact in her place, averaging 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. While Indiana’s Caitlin Clark has popularly been tabbed the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, Brink could make the race a lot more intriguing by building on her strong start.
- Where Brink — who currently owns the second-best Rookie of the Year odds at +700 — has a chance to differentiate herself is on the defensive end. She shined in that area in college, winning Naismith Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. She was also a three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
- Los Angeles is +20000 to win the WNBA title, the second-longest odds on the board ahead of Washington (+25000).
Handicapping the Game
Three of Minnesota’s next four games are on the road. The Lynx have fared well away from home, covering all three games in all games away from home. They are 2-1 outright, with an average margin of victory of 8.3 points.
With Collier playing like an MVP, the Lynx have the makings of a bona fide contender. She’s been Minnesota’s top scorer in four of its first seven games. Not to be overlooked are the contributions of McBride, who is averaging 16.0 points on 47.1% shooting and 3.9 assists.
Early betting trends show strong value in the Lynx covering as 7.5-point favorites in Los Angeles. Keep that in mind when making your WNBA picks.
For WNBA scores, betting analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine
