2025 WNBA Playoffs Game 2 Best Bets Today: Mercury vs Lynx Picks & Predictions (September 23)

The WNBA is back, and the semifinals will continue today! The Mercury and Lynx are headed into Game 2.

 (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)

With a 1-0 semifinals lead, Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx (1-0, 1-0 home) will host Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury (0-1, 0-1 away). In the best-of-five semifinals series, the Lynx dominated the Mercury in game 1, 82-69.

Although neither team shot efficiently, Courtney Williams led the way with 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and five steals for the Lynx. A complete two-way performance, Williams, Collier, and Kayla McBride combined for 62 points. An elite defensive squad all season, the Lynx held the Mercury to just 3 of 23 shooting beyond the arc (13%).

Dominant on the boards 43-35, the Lynx held the Mercury to 41.3 percent from the floor. While Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 22 points, she shot 10 of 23 from the field and 2 of 8 from downtown. Alyssa Thomas finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

Inconsistent in the WNBA Playoffs, Satou Sabally went 3 of 11 from the field and 0 of 5 from 3-point range for Phoenix. Outscored 41-22 in the second half, the Mercury were held to 12 and 10 points in the final two quarters.

The books aren't predicting a close Game 2, and the Lynx are a seven-point spread favorite at home. Can the Mercury steal a game on the road before heading back to the Valley for two games. or will the Lynx lead 2-0? The winner of this semifinals series will advance to the 2025 WNBA finals, and will face the winner of the Fever vs Aces series.

Minnesota enters Game 2 of the semifinals as heavy favorites at -205 on FanDuel, while Phoenix is a big underdog at +164.

2025 WNBA Playoffs Game 2: Mercury vs Lynx FanDuel Betting Odds And Schedule For Tuesday, September 23

If you're here to bet on the WNBA playoffs, welcome on in!

Tip-off featuring the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Set to take place in Minnesota, today is Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals.

While the Mercury have a clean bill of health, the Lynx will be without DiJonai Carrington for the rest of the season with a foot sprain.

Let's take a deeper dive at my three best bets, spread picks, and player prop predictions for Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals featuring the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx.

Given the unpredictability of the WNBA playoffs, I placed all my bets as separate picks within FanDuel Sportsbook. While betting is always risky, the playoffs can be uncertain!

Are you looking to bet on WNBA player props all season long? Here at Ballislife Bets, we've gathered a complete list of the best sports betting offers here. 

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WNBA Playoffs Best Bets Game 2: Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx FanDuel Betting Odds For September 23

MONEYLINE

• PHOENIX MECURY: +260
• MINNESOTA LYNX: -340

SPREAD

• PHOENIX MECURY: +7  (-108)
• MINNESOTA LYNX: -7 (-112)

OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)

• OVER: 158.5 (-112)
• UNDER: 158.5 (-108)

2025 Regular Season H2H Matchups: Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx

• July 16, 2025: Lynx 79, Mercury 66 (Minnesota -10, under 159)
• July 9, 2025: Mercury 79, Lynx 71 (Phoenix +7, under 160.5)
• June 3, 2025: Lynx 88, Mercury 65 (Minnesota -12.5, under 159)
• May 30, 2025: Lynx 74, Mercury 71 (Phoenix +5. under 157.5)

Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx Injury Report

MERCURY

1. None

LYNX

1. DiJonai Carrington, Guard: OUT (Foot Sprain)

*Odds are courtesy of FanDuel*

WNBA Best Bets For Mercury vs Lynx (September 23)

• Kayla McBride OVER 14.5 Points (-108 FanDuel)
• Courtney Williams OVER 10.5 Rebounds + Assists (-120 FanDuel)
• Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx UNDER 159.5 Points (-112 FanDuel)

Player Prop Bet #1: Kayla McBride

Kayla McBride 2025 WNBA Playoff Stats

GP: 3 | PPG: 18.7 | FG: 50 % | FT: 90.5 % | 3PT : 39.5 % | REB: 2.3 | AST: 3.5 | STL: 132 |  BLK: 0.1

•  OVER 14.5 Points (-108 FanDuel)

My first best bet for today, I placed one unit on Minnesota Lynx all-star guard Kayla McBride to record over 14.5 points against the Phoenix Mercury.

This semifinals series features two of the top defensive players in the league. In another words, it won't be Napheesa Collier scoring all the points for the Lynx.

I do think this line is set too low, especially since McBride has been shooting lights out in the playoffs. Considered one of the most underrated players in the WNBA, she always shows up in the biggest moments.

In three playoff games against the Valkyries and Mercury, McBride is putting up 18.7 points in 34 minutes for head coach Cheryl Reeve. Not to mention, she's shooting nearly 50/40/90— 50 percent from the field, 90.5 percent from the free-throw line, and 39.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Aforementioned, neither team dazzled on the offensive end, however McBride finished with 21 points, shooting 6 of 17 from the floor, 4 of 9 from three, and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line in Game 1. Logging just under 38 minutes, McBride was off to a hot start, scoring 12 first-half points.

Kayla McBride Was Clutch In Game 1 Of The Semifinals vs The Mercury

Possessing one of the quickest jumpers in the WNBA, McBride was effective in the pick and roll with Collier, driving down hill, and wasn't hesitate to pull over Satou Sabally or Monique Akoa Makani at the 3-point line.

All McBride needs is a small amount of space, she's one of the best shot creators in the league. In fact, her 3-point in the second quarter from a Jessica Shepard screen, kept the Lynx in contention through halftime.

While McBride is more than just a flamethrower, she stays ready on the 3-point line. We saw this in Game 1, in which the Mercury's defense collapsed multiple times, leaving McBride open on the perimeter. Plus, she's shooting nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc, how can I fade that?

McBride gets another matchup against Phoenix, where she averaged 14.3 points, and shot 42.1 percent from the field, and 43.5 percent from three. In four regular season games, she soared over this player prop line in two, scoring 18 and 20 points.

Either way, it's a solid matchup for McBride, who faces a Mercury defense that allows the fourth-most points to guards. In the playoffs we've seen Sabrina Ionescu erupt for 16 and 23 points vs Phoenix. In Game 1, Williams and McBride combined for 34 points alone!

Final WNBA Playoffs Mercury vs Lynx Game 2 best bet and prediction: Kayla McBride OVER 14.5 Points (-108 FanDuel)

Overall, I'm expecting heavy minutes from McBride, especially since Carrington is out for the remainder of the playoffs. Rotations shrink in the playoffs, and Natisha Heideman is the only guard who laced up off the bench.

• I'm taking Kayla McBride to record over 14.5 points today. Expecting her usage to remain high, she scored over 14.5 points in four of five games (including the playoffs) when logging 34 minutes or more.  Clutch in Game 1, this prop has great value at nearly plus money (-108 odds).

Player Prop Bet #2: Courtney Williams

Courtney Williams 2025 WNBA Playoff Stats

GP: 3 | PPG: 13.3 | FG: 47.4 % | FT: 66.7 % | 3PT : 25 % | REB: 5.7 | AST: 6.0 | STL: 3.0 |  BLK: 0.3

•  OVER 10.5 Rebounds + Assists (-120 FanDuel)

My second best bet for today, I placed one unit on Minnesota Lynx All-Star guard Courtney Williams to record over 10.5 rebounds and assists against the Phoenix Mercury.

If there's one thing to know about Williams, she impacts the box score in several ways. In fact, she showed why she's a crucial x-factor to the Lynx' success. In Game 1, she had an all-around elite two-way performance with 23 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

If anyone has playoff experience, it's Courtney Williams. Although standing just 5 foot 8, she's never shied away from an aggressive play style. In the playoffs, she's averaging 5.7 rebounds, a 16 percent increase in the regular season. In addition, she's averaging six assists in the postseason.

Overall, Williams has been fairly active on the boards, recording four, five, and eight rebounds against the Valkyries and Mercury. I expect this to remain high, especially if the Lynx can apply pressure on the defensive end. Limiting the Mercury to 41.3 percent field goal shooting, and 3 of 23 from three will certainly open up rebound opportunities.

Why Courtney Williams Can Clear This Player Prop Bet In Game 2 of the Semifinals

The Mercury are a gritty defensive team, led by point forward Alyssa Thomas, and rookie Monique Akoa Makani in the backcourt. This is a fairly decent matchup for Williams, given the Mercury allow the fourth-most rebounds and seventh-most assists to guards.

In four regular season matchups, Williams averaged six rebounds and 5.5 assists against the Lynx. Minnesota's primary playmaker as a combo type guard, Williams has dished out back-to-back seven dimes against Golden State and Phoenix.

Assists won't come hard, given the Lynx have a ton of talent in Collier, McBride, Sheppard, Alanna Smith, and Hiedeman among others. According to Her Hoop Stats, her six assists per game puts Williams in the 93 percentile. In the regular season, she averaged an impeccable 8.6 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per 40 minutes.

Final WNBA Playoffs Mercury vs Lynx Game 2 best bet and prediction: Courtney Williams OVER 10.5 Rebounds + Assists (-120 FanDuel)

With a 32.1 percent assist rate ad 11.6 percent rebound rate in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, I'm confident in this player prop today.

Logging just over seven minutes, Williams took over in the fourth quarter of Game 1. Recording six points, four rebounds, and four assists, she was a main factor why the Lynx secured the victory. Never count her out, especially in playoff matchups.

• I'm taking Courtney Williams to record over 10.5 rebounds and assists today. The Mercury allow the most rebounds per game (39.8), and 18 assists per game in the WNBA Playoffs. 

Total Bet: Mercury vs Lynx

Mercury O/U Record: 18-25-1
Lynx O/U Record: 21-22-2

• Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx UNDER 159.5 Points (-112 FanDuel)

My third best bet for today, I placed one unit on Game 2 featuring Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx will total under 159.5 total points.

Aforementioned, the Mercury and Lynx are two of the top defensive teams in the WNBA. The Lynx boast the top defensive rating this season, and that hasn't changed in the playoffs (97.5). For the Mercury, they ranked No. 5 in defensive ranking in both the season and playoffs.

It's easy to see why both squads are ruthless on the defensive end. The Lynx are powered by 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, and 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Alanna Smith. Plus, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams are relentless on the defensive end.

For Phoenix, it starts and ends with Alyssa Thomas. Plus, DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Mack, and Makani have shined on the defensive end.

Throughout the playoffs, the Lynx allow just 71 points per game, limiting opponents to a 39.9 field goal percentage, and 30.3 3-point percentage. The Mercury have allowed just 72.8 points per game, and a league low 37.9 percent opponent field goal percentage per game.

During the regular season the Mercury held a 18-25-1 over/under record, and the Lynx, 21-22-2. In another words, both teams totaled under total points more frequently than the over.

Final WNBA Playoffs Mercury vs Lynx Game 2 best bet and prediction: UNDER 159.5 Points (-112 FanDuel)

Stars such as Collier, Thomas, Copper, and Sabally didn't shoot their best in Game 1, and both squads shot under 45 percent from the field. In addition, their last five head-to-head matchups have soared under points. Specifically, Game 1 of the semifinals totaled 151 points.

Let's face it, buckets won't come easy for either team. Game 1 possessed a fast pace, and players were exhausted. Over the regular season, the Lynx and Mercury averaged a total of 148.3 points over four matchups.

• I'm taking Minnesota and Phoenix to soar under 159.5 points today. Of all playoff games this year, the Lynx soared over this total once— against the Valkyries last round.