There are three WNBA games scheduled for Saturday, with two appearing on national television. The Los Angeles Sparks will face the Minnesota Lynx at 1 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by the Indiana Fever hosting the undefeated New York Liberty at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, which features Caitlin Clark‘s anticipated return. The final game of the day will have the Seattle Storm battling the Golden State Valkyries at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Why the Minnesota Lynx Are a Strong Bet Against the Sparks
The Minnesota Lynx, coming off their first loss of the season to the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, look to rebound at home against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Lynx opened the season strong but fell by 10 in Seattle, creating a chance for revenge in a game streamed at 1 p.m. ET. The Sparks rank near the bottom defensively when it comes to limiting opponents’ three-point attempts, allowing 28.5 per game—second only to the Washington Mystics.
Minnesota boasts the top three-point shooting percentage in the WNBA at 38.4%, with every starter capable of scoring from deep. This creates a difficult challenge for the Sparks’ 6-foot-6 center Azura Stevens, who must defend beyond the perimeter. In their earlier season meeting, the Lynx won by 14 points, with 6-foot-4 Alanna Smith delivering a season-best performance by knocking down four three-pointers on seven attempts.
Indiana Fever’s Chances Improved by Caitlin Clark’s Comeback and Liberty’s Injuries
The Indiana Fever face a daunting opponent in the undefeated New York Liberty, but Caitlin Clark’s return from injury increases the Fever’s prospects of competing closely in the 3 p.m. ET matchup. Earlier in the season, Indiana was the only team to push New York to a narrow two-point win on its home court. The Liberty’s dominance has been slightly softened by injuries to key players Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich.
Jones, the Liberty’s star big, is dealing with an ankle injury that makes her status for Saturday’s game uncertain. Fiebich has left the team to compete in EuroBasket. While Fiebich averages only 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, her shooting efficiency of over 50% from the field and 48% from beyond the arc made her a valuable outside threat. Her absence forces New York to lean heavily on Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
Sabrina Ionescu has been pivotal during tight Liberty games, playing at least 35 minutes in three instances where the Liberty’s victory margins were single digits. In those games, Ionescu averaged 20 points on 19.3 shot attempts. Against the Fever earlier, she scored 23 points, signaling that she will be heavily involved offensively again.
With Fiebich absent and Jones possibly limited, the Liberty face pressure to maintain their undefeated record. Meanwhile, Clark’s return is vital for the Fever, who managed just a 2-3 record without her. Their last game without Clark was a heavy 19-point loss to the Atlanta Dream, during which Indiana scored a season-low 58 points. Clark is regarded as the driving force behind Indiana’s offensive efficiency, making her presence a key factor in keeping the game competitive despite the Liberty’s short-handed roster.
Expectations for Today’s High-Stakes WNBA Contests
Saturday’s games hold significant importance both for teams seeking to prove themselves and for betting markets. Minnesota’s ability to exploit the Sparks’ weak perimeter defense offers a promising betting angle, while Indiana aims to disrupt New York’s unbeaten streak, highlighted by the return of their star guard Caitlin Clark. The Liberty face the challenge of protecting their record without full strength, relying heavily on Ionescu and Stewart to lead the way.
These matchups also indicate potential shifts in team momentum as the season progresses, with key players either returning from injury or missing action due to other commitments such as international competition. Fans and bettors alike will be watching closely to see if the Fever can leverage Clark’s comeback to challenge the Liberty’s dominance, and whether the Lynx can bounce back effectively against the Sparks.