Lynx’s Final Regular Season Game Sets First-Round Playoff Matchup
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Lynx’s regular season finale on Thursday will determine their first-round opponent in the upcoming WNBA playoffs,despite already clinching the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the postseason. A win against Golden State guarantees a rematch with the valkyries in Round 1,while a Golden State victory would pit the Lynx against the Seattle Storm.
The unusual scenario gives minnesota a direct influence over their playoff path. Coach Cheryl Reeve had considered using the game to provide additional playing time for reserves and rest key players before the postseason. However, a clear preference for either Golden State or Seattle could alter those plans at Target Center on Thursday.
Minnesota holds a 3-0 season record against Golden State, who are missing leading scorer Kayla Thornton due to injury. Despite this, the Valkyries have shown recent improvement, winning five of their last seven games, fueled by the strong play of rookie forward Janelle Salaun, who is shooting 45% from three-point range as july 31.
seattle, on the othre hand, boasts a roster of established stars including Skylar Diggins, Brittney Sykes, Ezi Magbegor, Gabby Williams and Nneka Ogwumike. The Storm recently demonstrated their ability to compete with the Lynx in Minneapolis, scoring 93 points to split the season series just two weeks ago. Seattle overcame a six-game losing streak in early August, finishing the season with six wins in their final nine games to secure their playoff berth.
The game is scheduled for thursday at Target Center.Originally published: September 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM CDT
