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• Liberty have won seven of their last eight home games.
• Wings are among the league's top three teams in road wins.
• Dallas defeated New York 91-76 in their first head-to-head meeting this season.

New York heads into this home showdown with Dallas in high spirits. After a rocky start to the season, Chris DeMarco's team has found its rhythm and, by early July, cemented themselves among the leaders in the regular season standings.

Their recent results have been particularly impressive: the Liberty took down two of the main title contenders in succession—Las Vegas Aces and the then-table-topping Minnesota Lynx.

The main strength of this New York squad remains their powerful offensive lineup. Breanna Stewart is having one of the best seasons of her career, consistently scoring over 20 points, while Sabrina Ionescu continues to orchestrate the offense with a combination of scoring and high assist numbers. In recent games, the team has significantly improved its three-point shooting percentage and now ranks among the league's best both offensively and defensively.

Home court will be a crucial factor, as the Liberty traditionally play with much more confidence in New York. The team is hitting its stride, and if Stewart, Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones maintain their usual efficiency, the Liberty have a great chance to extend their winning streak and solidify their position at the top of the standings.

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Dallas has been one of the breakout stories of the 2026 season. After several challenging years, Jose Fernandez’s squad is playing at an entirely new level, and by midseason also boasts a 13–8 record, remaining firmly in the hunt for a top spot in the standings.

All eyes are on the team's young stars. No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd quickly adapted to WNBA play and has become one of the club's main sharpshooters. Paige Bueckers is just as dazzling, regularly taking charge in crunch time. Together, they form one of the league's most promising backcourts, while veteran Jessica Shepard provides balance in the paint.

Heading to New York, the Wings are in fine form. They recently notched wins over the Connecticut Sun (86-83) and Toronto Tempo (89-76), falling only to powerhouse Minnesota. What's most impressive is how confidently Dallas plays in close games, with their young leaders repeatedly showing nerves of steel in the clutch.

The visitors’ biggest advantage heading into this contest is psychological: it was the Wings who handed the Liberty one of their toughest losses of the season, so they know exactly how to break down New York's defense. Dallas is more than capable of challenging one of the league’s top favorites and repeating the success of that first encounter.

The Liberty are peaking. At the same time, the team will be highly motivated to avenge their recent blowout loss to Dallas. The Wings are also having an excellent season and come into this game riding a two-game winning streak, but now face a tough road test against one of the league’s best home teams. My pick: Liberty to win with a -2 point spread.

• See also: Switzerland vs Colombia: the most underrated round of 16 match?

• Phoenix is riding a three-game winning streak.
• The Sky have lost their last six away games.
• The Sky haven’t beaten the Mercury on their home court since 2023.
• Phoenix has defeated Chicago in the last nine head-to-head meetings.

Phoenix is having a mixed season, but the team has shown marked improvement in recent weeks. By early July, the Mercury are 12th in the standings with a record of 8 wins and 13 losses, still holding a realistic shot at making the playoffs.

After a tough June, the team managed to stabilize their game and re-enter the race for a top-eight finish. The standout performer in recent games has been Kahleah Copper. The experienced guard has reestablished herself as the offensive leader, while Alyssa Thomas continues to put in a massive workload, remaining one of the league’s most versatile players.

Nate Tibbetts’ squad is gradually becoming more organized on defense. While Mercury often faltered in crunch time earlier in the season, now the team has significantly reduced turnovers and is showing more composure in half-court offense. The contributions from role players are especially crucial now, helping take some of the load off the stars.

The home court remains a big advantage for Phoenix. At the Footprint Center, the team plays with much more confidence than on the road, and the schedule offers a great opportunity to pick up key points against one of the season’s outsiders. A win would bring the Mercury one step closer to the playoff zone and keep them in the chase for a top-eight spot.

• See also: Argentina vs Egypt: Can Salah pull off a shock or will Messi lead the champions onward again?

This season has been much tougher for Chicago. The team sits near the bottom of the standings with a 6-14 record, and inconsistent results have prevented them from making a serious climb up the table so far.

After a bright start, the Sky have gradually lost ground, especially against stronger opponents. Despite their struggles, the team does have its leaders. Sydney Taylor, Kamilla Cardoso, and the experienced Courtney Vandersloot—who has brought more structure to the offense since her return—all play key roles. However, the main issue remains inconsistent shooting: Chicago too often goes cold for stretches when the offense grinds to a halt.

Recent games have shown that the Sky can challenge almost any opponent, but maintaining a high level for all forty minutes is still a problem. The young roster commits a high number of turnovers, and lack of experience often shows in crunch time.

Heading into the matchup with Phoenix, Chicago’s main task will be containing the home team’s stars. If the Sky can slow the pace and win the battle under the basket, the game could stay close until the final minutes. However, in their current form, Mercury look like the more balanced and confident squad—especially with the home-court advantage.

Phoenix comes into this game in much better form. The team has won three of their last four games and looks especially strong at home. The Mercury’s leaders are playing consistent basketball, and their offense is clearly more effective than Chicago’s. With that in mind, my pick is a Phoenix win.

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• The Sparks have won just one of their last five games.
• Seattle has lost nine straight games on the road.
• The Sparks have defeated the Storm in each of their last four meetings.

The Sparks are gradually recovering after a stretch of inconsistent results, but the season remains a mixed bag for the squad. After 18 games, they hold a record of 8 wins and 10 losses, sitting mid-table in the Western Conference standings.

With only a narrow gap to the playoff zone, every victory now carries extra weight. While recent results have been mixed, the team has notably struggled more at home than on the road.

The Sparks' undisputed star is Kelsey Plum, who is once again performing at an All-Star level this season. The guard is the team's top scorer and regularly takes responsibility in crunch time. She's strongly supported by Cameron Brink, who continues to progress after returning from injury, as well as Dearica Hamby, who consistently racks up points and dominates the boards.

The main concern for the home side remains their defense. In terms of points allowed, the Sparks are among the league's most vulnerable teams. If their offense isn't firing at a high percentage, it becomes extremely difficult for them to compete with teams of Seattle's caliber, who are traditionally strong in half-court basketball.

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The Storm are enduring a rough patch in the regular season. After 22 games, they have just 5 wins and 17 losses, rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference and still struggling with disappointing results.

Seattle's form remains unconvincing. Over their last ten outings, they've managed only two wins, and those came against teams at the top of the standings. Their road record is especially dismal, with just one away win all season.

The team's leader is Dominika Malonga, who has made noticeable progress compared to last year. However, the lack of balance between experienced veterans and a deep rotation prevents the Storm from sustaining a high level of play throughout the season.

Another negative for Seattle is their head-to-head history: they've lost their last four meetings with the Sparks, including one defeat already this season. If the visitors can't contain Kelsey Plum's impact and limit their turnovers, snapping this losing run will be an uphill battle.

Despite losing their last two, the Sparks look like the favorites. They’ve already beaten Seattle this season and have the home-court advantage. The Storm enter the game on a two-game skid and have lost nine straight on the road, ranking among the league’s worst away teams. For these reasons, I’m backing the home side to come out on top.

• See also: Portugal vs Spain match prediction: a derby worthy of the final. 06.07.2026

• Minnesota has won six of its last seven home games.
• Connecticut has lost six consecutive road games.
• The Lynx have defeated Connecticut in each of their last four meetings.

Minnesota is enjoying one of its best seasons in recent years. After 20 games, the Lynx boast a 15-5 record, sitting atop the Western Conference and leading the entire WNBA in most key statistical categories.

Cheryl Reeve’s squad showcases the league’s best defensive rating and ranks among the most efficient teams in point differential. Their recent results only reinforce the Lynx’s elite status.

Despite a loss to the New York Liberty (86-99), Minnesota had previously won seven of eight games and still stands as one of the main title contenders. Even the setback in New York hasn’t changed the big picture—the Lynx remain firmly in control of the standings and rarely experience prolonged slumps.

On their home court, the Lynx traditionally play with maximum confidence. The team emphasizes intense defense, rapid transitions from defense to offense, and a high field goal percentage in the paint. Against lower-table opponents, Minnesota almost never allows upsets, entering this matchup as clear favorites.

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For Connecticut, this season has been a nightmare. Through 20 games, the Sun have managed just four wins against sixteen losses, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

The Sun struggle on both ends of the court, regularly falling short in key moments. Their form has been shaky as well—Connecticut has won only twice in its last ten outings and has suffered eight losses in nine road games.

Adding to their woes, the team is riding a six-game road losing streak, making the challenge in Minneapolis even tougher. The main issue remains the inconsistency of the roster. While their leaders occasionally produce strong performances, it hasn't been enough to consistently compete with the league’s top teams.

Another factor is the dismal head-to-head record. Minnesota has won its last four home games against Connecticut, and last season, the Lynx dominated this matchup by nearly 40 points. Unless the visitors can dramatically improve their three-point shooting and cut down on turnovers, pulling off an upset looks almost impossible.

The Lynx are confidently leading the championship and are one of the best home teams in the league. Connecticut, meanwhile, is enduring a dismal season, especially struggling on the road. The gulf in class between these teams is obvious, so a home win with a -10 point spread looks like the most likely scenario.

• See also: Portugal vs Spain match prediction: a derby worthy of the final. 06.07.2026

• The Mystics have lost half of their home games this season.
• The Valkyries have managed only two wins in their last six road games.
• The Valkyries have defeated the Mystics in all four of their head-to-head clashes.

The Mystics are having a much more confident season than expected following last year’s roster overhaul. After 19 games, the team holds a 10-9 record, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference and remaining in contention for a playoff spot.

In recent weeks, the squad has shown real improvement. Washington has won five of its last seven games and heads into the clash with the Valkyries riding a two-game winning streak. Especially significant was their win over one of the league leaders, Atlanta, where the team showcased strong defense and converted over 55% of their field goal attempts.

The main concern for the hosts remains their injury situation. Team leader Sonia Citron, who dropped 32 points in her last outing, has suffered a knee injury and will be sidelined. This means the young backcourt players will shoulder much more responsibility as they face one of the league’s top defensive units.

At home, the Mystics have yet to find consistency, but recent results suggest the team is becoming more organized. Washington is emphasizing ball movement, aggressive defense, and quick transitions—making up for a lack of star power with discipline and high-level team chemistry.

• See also: Who will reach the World Cup quarterfinals? Prediction for USA vs Belgium

For Golden State, the 2026 season is shaping up almost perfectly. After 21 games, the team boasts a 14-7 record and occupies third place in the overall WNBA standings, firmly among the main contenders as the playoffs approach.

The Valkyries’ current form is especially impressive. They come into this game on a four-game winning streak, having won eight of their last ten. This surge has propelled them into the league’s elite, and experts already rank the club among the WNBA’s top three teams at the moment.

The team’s leader is still Gabby Williams, who is enjoying the best season of her career. The forward consistently averages around 16 points per game, contributes on the boards and on defense, and her progress earned her a starting spot in the WNBA All-Star Game.

That said, the visitors are also dealing with personnel issues, as several players are out of the lineup. However, Golden State’s deep bench allows them to maintain a high level of play. Under Natalie Nakase, the team stands out for its solid defense, smart tempo control, and ability to close out games strongly—qualities that help them secure results even in tight contests.

The Valkyries come into this one in outstanding form: four straight wins have clearly boosted their confidence. The team is rock solid defensively and much more consistent than their opponents. On top of that, Washington is missing a key player, which significantly lowers their offensive ceiling. My pick is a win for the visitors.