Yesterday’s Results for Minnesota Lynx vs Dallas Wings

Sean's WNBA OPENING NIGHT SLAM DUNK - Friday

Analysis: My selection is on Minnesota minus the points over Dallas at 7:30 pm ET on Friday. All eyes will be on the much-anticipated debut of top overall pick Paige Bueckers, but the reality is that her presence doesn’t patch up Dallas’ long-standing defensive shortcomings. The Wings were one of the worst defensive teams in the WNBA last season, and there's little to suggest that a rookie—no matter how talented—will transform them overnight. Dallas gave up 112 points in their only preseason game against Las Vegas, and that came with A’ja Wilson playing just 21 minutes and shooting a modest 7-for-17 from the floor. That poor showing underlines the lack of defensive cohesion that continues to plague this team. Meanwhile, Minnesota comes into this season motivated, after pushing the Liberty to the brink in last year’s WNBA Finals. The Lynx return with a strong core and a well-balanced attack that should immediately take advantage of Dallas’ defensive lapses. This is a veteran group that thrives on execution and should expose the Wings' inexperience and issues on the defensive end from the opening tip. While the media hype might be centered on Bueckers, the on-court reality heavily favors the Lynx. Take Minnesota.