Two teams. Two stories, but one goal: to leave it all on the floor. After the grind over the past 44 games of each team, the field of 8 is set. The playoffs kick off with a clash between two teams who just squared off in the final game of the regular season, and the Minnesota Lynx were the better of the two that night. Cheryl Reeve’s Lynx are determined to get their revenge after their heartbreaking loss in last year’s finals against the Liberty, while the Super Coach Natalie Nakase’s Golden State Valkyries are defying the odds by already becoming the first expansion team to reach the playoffs.

It’s no secret the Valkyries are heavy underdogs against a playoff-tested Lynx squad featuring MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, DPOY frontrunner Alanna Smith, and last year’s MIP, DiJonai Carrington. But if any team can pull off a postseason shocker, it’s GSV. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this first-round clash.

Minnesota Lynx vs Golden State Valkyries: Where to watch?

Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Watch on: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo, Paramount+, and ESPN+

Minnesota Lynx vs Golden State Valkyries: Injury report

Minnesota Lynx

• DiJonai Carrington – PROBABLE

Golden State Valkyries

• Tiffany Hayes – OUT
• Kayla Thornton – OUT

Probable Starting 5

Golden State Valkyries

• Janelle Salaun
• Temi Fagbenle
• Iliana Rupert
• Kaila Charles
• Veronica Burton

Minnesota Lynx

• Bridget Carleton
• Alanna Smith
• Napheesa Collier
• Kayla McBride
• Courtney Williams

Prediction: Can the Valkyries defy odds once again?

The Minnesota Lynx head into the 2025 WNBA playoffs as the No. 1 seed, finishing the regular season with an impressive 34-10 record, tying the all-time single-season wins set by the 2023 Las Vegas Aces. The Golden State Valkyries come in as the 8th seed with a 23-21 record, but their season could have been even better if they hadn’t dropped their last three games.

When it comes to head-to-head matchups, the Lynx clearly had the upper hand, sweeping the Valkyries 4-0, including two wins in the final week and a half of the season. So it’s fair to say the Lynx enter Game 1 as the favorites, even though the only real blowout between the two teams came in Thursday’s season finale, which was a 19-point loss for Golden State that also marked their worst shooting night of the year.

The numbers back up the Lynx’s case as well. Napheesa Collier and her teammates lead the league in scoring with 86.1 points per game while also posting the best defensive rating at 97.5. The Valkyries, on the other hand, lag on offense, scoring just 77.7 points per game, but their defense is strong, ranking third in the league with a defensive rating of 99.8.

Naturally, ESPN has the Lynx as heavy favorites for this game, giving them an 85.3% chance of winning. Hosting Game 1 at Target Center only strengthens their case, as the Lynx lost just twice in 22 home games this season. If we had to place a bet, the Lynx would be the smart pick, but do share your thoughts in the comments below!