The No. 8 New York Liberty will face the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx in a best-of-three Round 1 series in the 2026 WNBA Playoffs. Game 1 is set for 2 p.m. ET on Sunday at the Target Center in Minneapolis on ABC.
Get my Liberty vs. Lynx prediction based on the latest WNBA odds:
Liberty vs. Lynx Prediction: Sunday, Sept. 27
- Liberty +7.5
With the spread climbing from 6.5 to 7.5, my Liberty vs. Lynx prediction likes taking the points with the road team.
This is a rematch from an epic 2024 WNBA Finals, in which the Liberty needed all five games to defeat the Lynx. The WNBA Finals has since been changed to a seven-game format. However, this Round 1 matchup is a best-of-three series.
After being the best team in the regular season for the second year in a row, Minnesota enters the postseason as a clear title favorite. But this isn’t an ideal matchup in the first round, considering New York was the preseason championship favorite.
The Liberty won two of the three head-to-head matchups against the Lynx this season, covering the spread in both victories. New York was never higher than a 5.5-point underdog in any matchup.
In addition, the Lynx appeared more mortal toward the end of the regular season. They lost four of their past six games. Rookie guard Olivia Miles missed the final two contests due to injury.
I like backing Liberty as underdogs in Game 1.
Prediction: Liberty +7.5
Liberty vs. Lynx Odds for Game 1, Round 1
- Liberty spread: +6.5
- Lynx spread: -6.5
- Total: 173.5
Liberty vs. Lynx Series Best Bet
- Series total games: 3
My Liberty vs. Lynx series best bet is that this matchup will need all three games to determine a winner. Given my faith in the Liberty as underdogs in Game 1, that shouldn’t be much of a surprise.
BetMGM offers -110 odds on this series to last three games, which might be the best way to approach a competitive Round 1 matchup. I’d project Minnesota to advance, but New York is a live underdog as a No. 8 seed.
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