Sun Jun 01 23:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Lynx Poised to Pounce on Valkyries; McBride Expected to Lead the Charge
**Minneapolis, MN** – The Minnesota Lynx are set to face off against the Golden State Valkyries tonight, June 1, in their first-ever meeting. While the Valkyries weren’t around last season when the Lynx felt slighted during the Finals, expect no mercy tonight, according to experts.
Despite the potential absence of Napheesa Collier due to a knee injury, the Lynx are heavily favored. Analyst Douglas Farmer predicts Kayla McBride will play a significant role in the Lynx’s offensive dominance. He highlights McBride’s increasing comfort level since returning from personal leave, noting her consistent 3-point shooting and increased scoring output in Collier’s absence.
Farmer recommends betting on McBride to score over 14.5 points (-130 at bet365), emphasizing her importance to the Lynx’s offensive rhythm and the likelihood that coach Cheryl Reeve will keep her on the court to facilitate her continued integration. He also suggests keeping an eye on Alanna Smith who is also expected to see an uptick in performance if Collier is unavailable.
The Valkyries, an expansion team, are facing the harsh realities of the WNBA, having consistently underperformed in their first five games. Experts predict a comfortable Lynx victory and are leaning towards a significant halftime lead, though avoiding full-game spread bets.
First Piper 