The Target Center hardwood could turn into a fire-and-ice showdown tonight. The Dream will come in, cloaked in scarlet and black. They have a scrappy, fast-paced attack fueled by Allisha Gray’s heat-check scoring. Across from them, the Lynx, will be draped in cool navy and silver. They will operate with calm and precision while leaning on Napheesa Collier’s steady dominance. The league-leading Lynx (22-4) aren’t in danger of losing their grip on the top seed. However, this clash could be Atlanta’s spark. Sitting at 14-10, the Dream could be looking to ignite a push toward the league’s top three. It’s a high-stakes matchup indeed.

Where to Watch the Exciting: Minnesota Lynx vs Atlanta Dream?

• Date: Sunday, 27th July
• Time: 7:00 PM ET (Eastern Time)
• Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

For the folks wishing to watch it on cable services, you can choose ION, MNMT, or NBA TV, with Pat Boylan (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (analysis). For viewers who are willing to opt for streaming services, you can watch it using the WNBA League Pass, Amazon Prime US, Fubo, SlingTV, and YouTube TV.

The Injury Report

Both squads are down one guard each, and the injury report looks balanced for this matchup.

Minnesota Lynx:

• Karlie Smuelson (G): Out (foot)

Just ahead of their commissioner’s cup final vs. the Fever, a foot injury ruled out the Minnesota Lynx’s veteran guard Karlie Samuelson. She collapsed to the floor in visible pain and clutched her foot. She had to be carried to the locker room in a wheelchair. The Lynx franchise announced on Friday that she will undergo foot surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.

Atlanta Dream:

• Rhyne Howard (G): Out (knee)

In the second quarter of Atlanta’s game against Indiana, Howard injured herself after attempting to secure a rebound following a 3-pointer by Caitlin Clark. As she came down from her jump, her landing on the left leg seemed off, and she collapsed in pain almost immediately. The franchise announced that she will be ruled out for the rest of July.

Predicted Starting Lineup

Minnesota Lynx: 

• Bridget Carleton (#6) – 29.2 MIN, 7.1 PTS, 0.3 BLK, 2.5 AST, 1.0 STL
• Alanna Smith (#8) – 26.3 MIN, 12.3 PTS, 2.1 BLK, 1.8 AST, 1.2 STL
• Napheesa Collier (#24) – 32.9 MIN, 23.1 PTS, 1.6 BLK, 3.3 AST, 1.7 STL
• Kayla McBride (#21) – 31.4 MIN, 14.5 PTS, 0.1 BLK, 3.2 AST, 1.1 STL
• Courtney Williams (#10) – 28.5 MIN, 14.2 PTS, 0.3 BLK, 6.0 AST, 1.5 STL

Atlanta Dream:

• Brionna Jones (#24) – 28.8 MIN, 12.9 PTS, 0.6 BLK, 2.6 AST, 1.0 STL
• Brittney Griner (#42) – 23.5 MIN, 10.5 PTS, 1.2 BLK, 0.8 AST, 0.1 STL
• Allisha Gray (#15) – 35.6 MIN, 19.0 PTS, 0.4 BLK, 4.0 AST, 1.0 STL
• Jordin Canada (#3) – 28.1 MIN, 10.7 PTS, 0.2 BLK, 5.4 AST, 1.5 STL
• Maya Caldwell (#33) – 14.1 MIN, 3.5 PTS, 0.3 BLK, 1.3 AST, 0.6 STL

How the Minnesota Lynx vs Atlanta Dream Might Go Down…

The stats don’t lie, and based on those, ESPN gives Minnesota a 69.2% chance to keep dominating, and it’s easy to see why. The Lynx are 22-4, riding a four-game win streak, and they’ve been crushing opponents. Like their 109–78 blowout over Las Vegas in their last game. Napheesa Collier (23.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG) is the backbone behind it all. She combines elite scoring with lockdown defense, while Courtney Williams’ 6.0 APG powers an offense shooting 46.1% as a team. They’re even holding teams to just 74.8 points per game.

Whereas Atlanta, sitting at 14-10, is fighting to stay competitive in the East. Allisha Gray (19.0 PPG) has been their go-to scorer, but the Dream’s offense is inconsistent. They currently average 83.5 points but shoot only 43.1% from the field. They have lost three of their last six, including an 87–72 loss to Las Vegas, before barely scraping past Phoenix. Brionna Jones (7.6 RPG) now faces a brutal challenge trying to contain Collier on the boards.

Earlier this year, these two matched up, and it was a close, 96-92 Lynx overtime win, so Atlanta can keep it competitive. But unless Gray gets major support and Jordin Canada (5.4 APG) runs the offense perfectly, Minnesota’s depth and red-hot form likely mean another night where the Lynx take over.